The Complete Guide To Gota Patti Work

by Rana Fashion Marketing Manager

What is a gota patti dress?
A gota patti dress is an Indian embroidery work the roots of which have primarily originated from the royal state of Rajasthan. Gota patti embroidery makes use of the applique technique wherein tiny pieces of the exquisite zari ribbons are sewn onto the fabric by creating elaborate and ornate designs.

Wedding ensembles and festive garments principally draw their inspiration from gota patti embroidery work. Attires made in gota patti work – sarees, suits, gowns, blouses, shawls etc. are reserved for special occasions by people as these lend a heavy, sophisticated appearance to the wearer.

Gota patti work and its online retailing
Today, people do not shy away from purchasing gota patti sarees online or rather surf through some of the most exquisite gota patti fabric online which can be stitched as per taste and requirement into any garment. Semi-stitched suits and sarees are available in exotic patterns and colours online to charm the buyer. Online retailers today offer a plethora of dainty gota patti work in garments. Many offline retailers have also taken the online leap and are showcasing their work and garments to the worldwide potential customers.

Familiarising the world with gota patti work
This way, people in other parts of the world are becoming familiar with Rajasthan’s bold and striking textile work or gota patti. Also, retailing of gota patti dress materials online opens up channels for business and revenue-making for retailers in the country and brings forward the hidden talented textile work of the state and its artists.

However, having said so, designers and textile houses beyond the borders of Rajasthan are also doing an impeccable job at churning out some of the most royal gota patti dresses for the buyers today. The buyer is spoilt for royal choices, be it for purchasing a gota patti dress material or a saree or suit.

Gota patti work – Gold and silver embroider work opposed to copper and polyster gota patti
In earlier times, authentic gold and silver metal were used to embroider on garments, but, these were replaced with copper embroider work where copper was coated with silver. This was done as gold and silver added to the cost of making the garments heavily.

Given today, there are a variety of reasonable options available in the textile industry to get an outfit made that would seem like a gota patti work in gold and silver thereby giving a faux. Today copper has been replaced by a polyester film which is further metalized and coated to suit customer requirements. Plastic gota’s are also available in the markets readily and are comparatively highly durable and affordable. These are also resistant to moisture and do not tarnish as opposed to metal based Gota.

Gota patti work is more enhanced by designers by making subtle use of motifs, brooches, floral work, incorporation of wildlife designs etc. Gota lends an ornate and heavy look to garments and yet stays light to wear.In Rajasthan, outfits with Gota patti work are worn at auspicious functions. Gota work is generally done on dupattas, turban edges and ghagras in addition to sarees and suits.