Handmade Pakistan, craft by craft
The crafts Pakistan makes by hand, and the people who make them
Ajrak printed on both sides of the cloth in Sindh. Cobalt-blue pottery in Multan. Khussas stitched one pair at a time. We tell the stories behind them, and point you to the makers.
- 8stories so far
- 16crafts in the atlas
- 10places of origin
- 29sources cited
Latest stories
All stories →Handmade gifts from Pakistan for Eid and weddings, and how early to order them
Handmade Pakistani gifts for Eid and weddings: ajrak, khussas, Balochi embroidery, rilli quilts, blue pottery, lacquer boxes and the pakol cap. How long each takes to …
7 min readA craft day in Multan: blue tiles, khussas and the old bazaar
A one-day craft itinerary for Multan: the tiled shrines of Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Nigar Khana's blue pottery and camel-skin lamps, khussas and Hussain Agahi …
6 min readHala and Bhit Shah: a craft trip from Hyderabad
A craft trip to Bhit Shah and Hala in Sindh: Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's tiled shrine and Thursday music, ajrak workshops, and Hala's glazed pottery, jandi …
6 min readExplore the crafts, province by province
The full craft atlas →Sindh
Ajrak
Matiari, Hala, Bhit Shah, Hyderabad and across Sindh
Cloth block printed and resist dyed in indigo and crimson, given to guests as a mark of respect.
Read the story →Hala glazed pottery
Hala
Hand-painted glazed earthenware in cobalt blue, turquoise, purple, mustard, white and brown.
Read the story →Jandi lacquer work
Hala
Lacquered woodwork turned into lamps, boxes, vases and furniture.
Read the story →Rilli
Across Sindh
Patchwork quilts found in Sindhi homes and often given as gifts.
Read the story →Punjab
Multani blue pottery
Multan
Kashigari: pottery and tiles painted in cobalt blue and turquoise, the same craft that covers the city's shrines.
Read the story →Multani khussa
Multan
Flat leather shoes stitched by hand, often embroidered with metallic tilla thread.
Read the story →Naqashi camel-skin lamps
Multan
Painted camel-skin lampshades and vases, a rare art that casts warm patterned light.
Read the story →Chiniot carved furniture
Chiniot
Shisham and rosewood furniture carved by hand with knife-like tools called chappu.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawari chappal
Peshawar
The Pashtun leather sandal, made to order in old markets such as Peshawar's Namak Mandi.
Read the story →Balochistan
Balochi embroidery
Kech, Makran, Kalat, Dera Bugti and across Balochistan
Hand embroidery on the sleeves, pockets and cuffs of the pashk dress, sometimes set with small mirrors. A full dress can take a month.
Read the story →Gilgit-Baltistan
Iraghi embroidery
Hunza and Ghizer
Fine silk embroidery on thick cotton, for women's caps and bridal collars. A single cap can take months.
Read the story →Pakol
Gilgit, Astore and Chitral
The soft wool cap of the north, with a rolled brim you pull down over the ears in the cold.
Read the story →Azad Kashmir
Papier-mâché
Azad Kashmir
Painted papier-mâché, one of the crafts Azad Kashmir's artisans bring to Lok Virsa's fair in Islamabad.
Walnut wood carving
Azad Kashmir
Carving in walnut, cedar and other woods, by masters such as Kamran Butt.
Namda and gabba rugs
Azad Kashmir
Namda, a rug made by felting wool rather than weaving it, and gabba are among the crafts of AJK's artisans.
Inside a craft
How an ajrak is made, in nine steps
Weeks of printing, dyeing and washing go into every ajrak, much of it done on the riverbank. Step through it, then read the full story.
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1
Wash and steam
The cloth is washed, coiled damp over a copper vat under a quilt, and left overnight.
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2
The oil bath
Two weeks soaking in seed oil, knotted in a bundle. Printers say this decides the quality.
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3
Print the outline
Carved wooden blocks stamp the design in lime, acacia gum and rice paste.
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4
The mud resist
Kharrh paste covers everything that must stay white, black or red.
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5
First indigo
Into the indigo vat. The cloth comes out green and turns blue in the air.
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6
Wash in the river
Thrashed in the river until the gum and loose dye wash out.
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7
The red
Alizarin in a copper vat over a log fire, dipped again and again for a couple of hours.
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8
Dry on the bank
Spread on the riverbank and sprinkled with water, bleaching the whites.
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9
Last indigo, then fold
A final resist and indigo bath, a wash, and a damp fold that presses it flat.
Buying handmade: what we'd check
- 1
Ask who made it, and where
A seller who can name the workshop and the town is usually selling the real thing.
- 2
Look for the hand
Small differences between block repeats, brush strokes or stitches are a good sign.
- 3
Ask for a video first
A short WhatsApp video of the actual piece, before you pay.
- 4
Plan the shipping
Agree on packing for anything fragile, and combine parcels to save on postage.
Words of the craft
The full glossary →From our sister site
Found something you love? Getting it home
WomanlyGrace stitches Pakistani outfits to measure in Lahore and ships from Pakistan in one combined box. Their guides pick up where ours leave off.
How consolidated shipping from Pakistan saves you money
Why ordering from several Pakistani sellers and shipping it all in one box costs far less than paying for each parcel separately.
Read on WomanlyGrace ↗What to wear to a Pakistani wedding
Colours, fabrics and silhouettes for the mehndi, baraat, walima and nikkah, whether you're a guest or family.
Read on WomanlyGrace ↗Lawn, cotton, chiffon or silk? Choosing the right fabric
The fabrics Pakistani brands use, from summer lawn to winter khaddar, and which styles each one suits.
Read on WomanlyGrace ↗For makers
Make something by hand? We'd like to feature you, free.
Weavers, potters, printers, embroiderers, shoemakers, woodcarvers: tell us about your work and we'll write about it, with links straight to your WhatsApp or Instagram. No fees, no commission.