About Our Tapestries

Provenance

Moppet wall hangings combine ancient craft and folk art design with a contemporary sensibility to colour and materials. Traditional illustrations are brought to life through the local Zalakdozi crewel chainstitch technique, practised in the Kashmir Valley for generations.

Our pieces are embroidered within rural artisan communities, often during the winter months alongside agricultural work. Materials are sustainably sourced and each tapestry is produced in the homes of the artisans who create them, around family life and seasonal rhythms.

Process

Each Moppet wall hanging passes through many skilled hands as part of its creation, with every stage requiring a different form of expertise.

First, the Naquash (draftsman) interprets our designs using a traditional stencilling process. Illustrations are traced onto translucent paper and outlined with tiny pin-prick holes. This sheet is then laid onto the Dasooti (cotton canvas) and dusted with pigment, allowing the pattern to pass through for the embroiderer to follow.

Our bespoke colour palettes are created using azo-free dyes to hand-dyed hanks of woollen yarn, which are then distributed throughout the embroidering communities alongside the prepared fabrics.

Next, the Zalakdooz (embroiderer) begins work using a hook-shaped Aari needle, traditionally seated in the Zangvaitth posture with knees raised and back supported against a cushion or wall.

Finally, the completed pieces are collected from the villages, washed by hand and dried under the warmth of the sun.

History

Crewel embroidery was brought to Kashmir from Persia and has since become one of the region’s signature crafts. Known locally as Kashida-kari, the tradition flourished under Mughal patronage in the 16th century as Kashmir’s textile industry gained international recognition.

Unlike more utilitarian textile traditions, Kashmiri embroidery developed largely as a decorative art form, adorning the interiors of homes and palaces for generations. The craft has long been passed through families, and today both men and women are respected members of the Zalakdozi embroidery tradition.

Explore our tapestry collection