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Interior design has become more popular than ever before. In 2023 alone, the market reached a staggering £1.5 billion in revenue, and trends show that the number will only continue to grow in the coming years. Interior design trends show people’s tendency towards simplicity, using mostly neutral colours for the walls, floors, and furniture. People use decor pieces, like embroidered pillows, to bring some vibrance into the overall design of their space.
If you want your decorations to be meaningful, we recommend that you look into Suzani pillows. Suzani is a traditional type of embroidery from Central Asia and has been around for centuries. In today's article, we will tell you more about Suzani embroidered pillows, their origin, their cultural significance, the materials and embroidery techniques used, and where to buy the perfect Suzani pillows for your home. So, stick around if you want to learn more!
Silk embroidery has been a common practice in Central Asia for centuries, even since tribal times. Silk was used by or for the wealthier families, while poorer families embroidered pieces of cotton. Various areas and regions practised various embroidery techniques. With time, this became more than just a cultural thing—it became a tradition in each family, as the older women taught the girls as young as eight the embroidery ways and practices.
One of the most popular types of embroidery practised in most Central Asian countries is Suzani, a technique that adopted its name from the Persian word for needle - suzan. It's practised in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan and can also be paired with Ikat, a traditional practice of dyeing fabric.
Suzanis became more popular in the 18th century, although some earlier mentions also exist. In the 15th century, a Castilian ambassador who spent time in the area during Timur's reign mentioned Suzani in some remaining sources of information. So, it's clear that this technique has prevailed over the centuries.
The cultural significance of Suzani embroidery is immense. It shows the tradition and spirit of the entire region through the depictions of various symbols in intricate designs. Mind you, our focus might be on Suzani embroidered pillows, but this type of embroidery has been used for various other things, from table and furniture coverings to wall hangings and rugs.
Nevertheless, such designs will help you determine the various symbols the women used to create them, from flowers to leaves, fruits, the sun, moon, birds, fish, etc. It's interesting to think of these not only as direct representations of nature and the world but also of fertility, prosperity, freedom, and protection. Thus, the beliefs of the nations are clearly integrated into the designs.
Moreover, creating Suzani pillow covers and other embroidered designs was like a rite of passage for young women. It was a bonding moment between the women in a family and helped young women create a dowry—something they would present to their husbands upon getting married to show their skill set.
Even though dowries are not practised in many countries nowadays, it's interesting to think about how the women would prepare for their new life with their husbands by taking a part of their tradition to the new home. It creates a sense of appreciation for these practices and the time and effort used to create just one design. Maybe that's why so many modern households incorporate Suzani pillows into their modern interiors.
Let's discuss what a Suzani pillow truly includes. The traditional practice of Suzani embroidery included creating designs on a piece of cotton or, often, silk. That material would be embroidered using silk and cotton thread in varying colours. Here’s what the design usually included:
These are far from the only regional varieties or symbols you can find on Suzanis. The truth is that the designs can vary from complex and bold to more modern with a mix of traditional. All kinds of narratives are covered in Suzani embroidery, which makes them unique, intricate, and the perfect addition to your home if you want to bring a bit of tradition and spirituality to your space.
Nowadays, Suzani embroidery is still being done in Central Asia. However, with many people relocating to countries like the UK, the tradition has also moved to new regions and adopted different variations to fit the market. So, it's common to find Suzani pillows with a modern twist in the design to fit current household decor trends.
Another thing that should be considered is the changes that industrialisation brought to various traditions like Suzani embroidery. It has led to mass production and machine embroidery that still follows the same symbols and colour schemes but no longer includes hand-made designs.
Whether you stick to the traditional way of making Suzani embroidery or buy some of the mass-produced designs is entirely up to you. However, consider the costs, time, and effort to make the designs. The hand-made embroidery and fabric dyeing are often worth a few extra pounds if you want authentic Suzani pillow covers or other traditional decor.
As mentioned briefly, some interior design trends show that people want to mix the modern with the traditional. We've found that some prevalent interior design trends include simplicity and minimalism with the predominant use of neutral colours. However, that little splash of colour can easily come from something like a Suzani pillow!
Think about it—these embroidered designs can be customised to fit your space regarding colour and material. While usually incorporating cotton and silk, there are no limitations as to the colours or symbols represented, meaning you can easily make them fit your preferences.
Although incorporating such traditional elements is not everyone's cup of tea, we urge you to look into the Suzani and Ikat designs sold on our website to find the ideal pieces of decor for your space. Whether a table runner or silk pillow, there are various ways to incorporate Suzani embroidery in your space, so give it a chance!
Once you decide to purchase Suzani pillow covers or other embroidered pieces of decor, you should learn how to care for them as well. Some pieces will come with a recommended maintenance technique, but that will not always be the case. If it's not for your products, you can either ask the craftsmen or shop that sold you the decor or follow our helpful guide.
With years of experience in handling delicate materials and Suzani embroidery, we've developed a tried-and-tested method for maintaining them. Our recommendations will ensure your Suzani pillows remain spotless and brand-new without causing any damage:
Buying authentic Suzani pillows is not as challenging as you might think! In fact, there are various artisan markets across the UK where you can locate artisans offering various designs in all different sizes. Furthermore, some artisans choose to sell their designs online, so a simple Google search can provide you with a quick list of all the people who sell Suzani embroidered pillows online.
However, only a few tried-and-true companies truly follow the traditional way of creating Suzani embroidery. Take Alesouk for an example. All our designs are authentic and handcrafted, which means you will benefit from high-quality materials and genuine designs that accurately represent the cultural traditions of these Central Asian countries.
Our company collaborates with artisans to acquire these decor pieces rather than mass-produce them. We offer various Suzani and Ikar designs at affordable prices, whether pillow covers, table covers and runners, or oriental rugs.
Thank you for reading our detailed guide on Suzani pillows, the history of this type of embroidery, its cultural significance, its notable features, etc. We hope you now understand how important this embroidery has been for the entire region across the centuries and how adding a Suzani pillow to your decor can help give your living space the perfect combination of modern and traditional.
If you are still looking for the best Suzani pillows with the highest quality but the most fair prices, please consider purchasing from Alesouk. There are various designs for you to consider, and we also have a 30-day money-back guarantee policy if you are unsatisfied with your purchase. Feel free to order through our website or contact us through email, phone, or the dedicated contact form.
Suzani pillows are unique because they directly represent a traditional practice from Central Asia that has prevailed for centuries. The hand-crafted embroidery, the vibrance, and the versatility of the designs will leave you speechless as you think about the time and effort put into hand-stitching and embroidering each piece.
You can tell if a Suzani pillow is authentic if you verify that with the seller and look into their existing reviews. Furthermore, you should check if the pillows are hand-stitched and hand-made instead of mass-produced. Finally, look into the quality of the materials used.
While in the past, Suzani pillows represented a specific area in Central Asia, nowadays, the focus is on the design rather than the region of origin. Thus, you can order custom Suzani pillows and have them incorporate the traditional symbols and colours in a way that fits your requirements.
Suzani pillow covers or any other item that has this type of embroidery requires specific maintenance that does not include using harsh chemicals. Due to the delicate fabric and stitching, you should spot clean or hand wash it with lukewarm water and mild soap without scrubbing or pulling on the fabric.
We recommend buying Suzani pillows from local craftsmen or companies that hand-make all their Suzani embroidered decor. At Alesouk, we have hand-crafted Suzani pillow covers and pillows that are authentic and affordable, so you cannot go wrong by purchasing from us!
