Sheesh Embroidery Works

You can find us in Talgram, which is in the Kannauj district. Our work happens in Moholla Garhi. It’s a quiet place compared to the big cities, but there is always a lot of activity inside the workshop. Sheesh Embroidery Works is basically just a group of us sitting around large wooden frames. We spend hours leaning over fabric with needles and colorful threads. The light comes in through the open door and we try to make the most of it before the sun goes down. Kannauj is known for many things, but here in our corner, it’s all about the handwork. Our fingers get a bit rough from the constant stitching, but that’s just how it is. There are piles of cloth everywhere—some silk, some cotton. We don’t use fancy machines for everything; a lot of it is just slow, steady movement. Neighbors often stop by to chat while we work. The floors are stone and the walls are just plain. We don't have a sign that glows at night. We just have our names known in the village and the post comes to Talgram. It is a simple life centered around the patterns we create on the fabric. Sometimes the thread tangles and we have to start a section over, which is frustrating, but we just keep going until the piece is finished. We have been doing this for years and it is just what we know.