You can talk of Italian couture all you like, but Indian handicrafts and artwork will always stand many shades apart. That is because every thread has a story to tell. They carry with them many histories, many legacies – each of them a representative of the state they belong to. However, hand on your heart – how many Indian masterpieces can you actually think of? Sure, you know the ones that Vidya Balan wore to an awards show, but there are so many other lesser known beauties that you know little about. Here are some Indian handicrafts/artwork we’d like to list:

Madhubani

Madhubani painting is also known as Mithila painting. Natural dyes and pigments are used to create it.
Madhubani art has five distinctive styles – Bharni, Tantrik, Nepali, Katchni and Gobar. This art form became more and more popular over the ages and is now also replicated in other decorative forms.

Madhubani art became more and more popular over the ages. (Photo: Meenakshi J./Artologue.in)

Phulkari

Phulkari literally means flower work. These are products of hand-made embroidery that women in Punjab started working on in the 19th century.
The appeal of the phulkari has only grown over the years. Made with bright, colourful threads sewn together in different patterns, it is a must-have in Punjabi households.

This is a must-have in Punjabi households. (Photo: dsource.in