Resham Thread Explained: What It Is and How It's Used

What does resham mean?

Resham is the Hindi and Urdu word for silk thread, used broadly across Indian textile traditions to describe fine, coloured silk thread used in embroidery, weaving, and decorative stitching, as distinct from metallic zari thread.

How is resham different from zari?

Zari refers specifically to metallic gold or silver-coated thread used to create shimmering, embellished patterns. Resham is coloured silk thread without any metallic coating, used to add colour, texture, and detail to a design without the metallic shine associated with zari.

How is resham used in Banarasi textiles?

Resham thread is often combined with zari in Banarasi weaving to add coloured detail within motifs — for example, colouring the petals of a floral motif in resham while outlining it in gold zari, creating a richer, multi-dimensional design.

What products commonly feature resham work?

Resham detailing appears across sarees, dupattas, suits, and scarves, wherever a design calls for coloured silk accent work alongside or instead of metallic zari.

Is resham thread as durable as zari?

Resham thread, being pure silk without metallic coating, generally doesn't tarnish the way zari can over time, though it should still be cared for gently through dry cleaning to preserve its colour and texture.

Explore our Resham silk saree collection, featuring coloured silk thread detailing.