What is Zari ?
India has long been known for its gold thread, zari. Even in the Vedic age, zari was thought to have adorned the attire of Gods, and has held therefore a distinguished place among Indian crafts. Historically, zari consisted of pure silver wires whose surface was fused with real gold leaves. This was known as kalabattu. Real zari is made from flat silver wire that is electroplated with gold. Zari made from these precious metals is used for ceremonial sarees, richly embroidered apparel, furnishings, etc. Imitation zari, on the other hand, is made from copper wire. A third variety, plastic zari, is made from a chemically-coloured metallic yarn. More than 20 colours of zari are now produced, and there are varieties such as zari on glass, zari on wood etc.. The principal Indian Manufacturer for zari products are Chennai, Mysore, Bangalore, Salem, Madurai, Kanchipuram, and Kumbakonam in the south; Jaipur, Delhi, Amritsar and Varanasi in the north, Kolkata in the east, and Mumbai and Nagpur in the west.