The story
What it is
Swat is a green valley of rivers, orchards and old Buddhist ruins in Pakistan’s north-west. Its women have long embroidered shawls, wedding cloths and dresses with dense geometric patterns in bright silk floss, worked from the back of the cloth so the front looks almost woven.
Today Swat’s bazaars at Mingora and Islampur sell woollen shawls from plain everyday wraps to heavily embroidered pieces that take months.
Where it comes from
Swati embroidery, sometimes called Swat phulkari, is related to the embroidery traditions of Punjab and the Hazara region, and old pieces are collected by museums. Islampur village near Saidu Sharif is known for its handloom woollen shawls and blankets.