Zari and zari embroidery are believed to date back to the Mughal era. Zari typically means a type of thread made of fine gold or silver wire. This wire is used extensively to intricately embroider Indian and Pakistani garments. Due to the expense and exclusivity of the thread, such embroidery is done mainly on garments pertaining to traditional Indian formal wear.

The main centers of Zari production in India are Surat in the state of Gujarat and Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Here the metal ingots are melted into metal bars called pasa from which lengths are got by beating it after treatment. This is then pulled through perforated steel plates to make it into wires, followed by the tarkashi process to make it thin with rubber and diamond dies. The last stage is called badla where the wire is flattened and twisted with silk or cotton thread to become kasab or kalabattu. This has uniform evenness, flexibility, softness, and ductility. Kasab can stand for real silver / gold, as well as for plated silver/gold or for an imitation in which a copper base is given a coat of silver or golden colour to make the product less expensive.

The different kind of zari works can be seen as follows:

- Zardozi: This is a heavy and more elaborate embroidery work which uses varieties of gold threads, spangles, beads, seed pearls, wire, and gota. It is used to embellish wedding outfits, heavy coats, cushions, curtains, canopies, animal trappings, bags, purses, belts, and shoes. The material on which this kind of embroidery is done is usually heavy silk, velvet and satin. The main centres are in Delhi, Jaipur, Banaras, Agra, and Surat. The old teach the young and the skill continues from generation to generation.

- Kamdani: This is a lighter needlework which is done on lighter material like scarves, veils, and caps. Ordinary thread is used and the wire is pressed down with the stitching producing a satin-stitch effect. The effect produced is glittering and is called hazara butti (thousand lights).

- Gota Work: The woven gold border is cut into various shapes to create a variety of textures in the patterns. In Jaipur the border of the material or sari is cut into shapes of birds, animals, and human figures, attached to the cloth, and covered with wires of silver and gold; it is surrounded by coloured silks. The work resembles enamelling.

There are a number of products which are made using zari and zari work. These include:

- Saris and Dress Materials

-Shoes, Mojris and Chapals ( Sandals and Flat shoes)

- Bags

- Pillow/ Cushion covers

- Bed Sheets

Zari products are a class apart. They look royal and elegant and have several uses. Due to modern technology they are now available in various price ranges from inexpensive to exorbitant. Finally it is boils down to individual choice- whether you want the original or the imitation.