Aari, also known as Zalakdozi is a form of embroidery originating from Kashmir. The word zalokdozi means chain stitch. Aari embroidery involves only the chain stitch done in concentric rings to fill a pattern. Zalakdozi typically uses wool, cotton, or silk thread. It is done not using a needle, but a hook known as ‘ari’. Using a hook to do this embroidery saves on time and energy as the hook is used to pull a series of loops of the chain stitch, as against the single loops that have to be done using a needle.
