Celebrating heritage through motif designs

Celebrating heritage through motif designs


The legacy continues at East World Market design studio

The traditional crafts are found in every region of Pakistan with rich Mughal style and Islamic art form. With its emphasis on perfect synchronization, perfect balance and correct depicted floral and geometric patterns is predominated in Pakistani designs. It can be seen in different form of architecture to textile. Window and door grills and gates in Pakistan has very distinguished patterns so is the glazed tiles of different motifs found in pre and post historical period of Mughals, Indus civilization, Gandhara Civilization ,Islamic Period and Sikh Period.

Some of the most prominent designs are

Carrey or Paisley motif

This Is a droplet shaped vegetable (mango seed) motif and that also filled with geometrical lines and patterns sometimes it’s also called as Persian pickles. This is a very popular design in other countries also like Iran, India and central Asian countries. Paisley designs are used using gold or silver threads on silk and other textile. In Pakistan, these pattern are widely termed as the Carrey ,it’s the mango sometime also called as Ambia or Ambi.

Jaldar (netted) Motif
This is a repetition of the geometric motif. Mostly using circle, square, triangle and lines

Then there are motifs according to the regions


Mehran motif

The Indus Valley Civilization, traces can be seen in the ruins Moen-jo-Daro, situated in the Sindh, which has an ancient and rich tradition motifs. Hala tile work is one of the most striking representations of a craftsmanship that transforms clay into an object of undying beauty and art piece. Exquisitely adorned with electric blue and white floral patterns and motifs, the Hala craft signifies a labor of love and a passion for perfection as each piece is manufacture by hands.

Baluchi motif

Baluchi motif reflects the land of the thousands of years old Juniper Forests. The local craftsmanship reflects the proud Baluchi tribal tradition. The pattern is mostly bold geometric motifs in primary colors dominated by red and making it strikingly beautiful and colorful reflection of creativity is seen in the carpets and rugs woven with wool, goat or camel hair and mixed yarn. Each piece is handmade with century old pattern of weaving. Many carpet weaver use these motifs like elephant traceries, paisleys, four cornered motif called choukandi and there are rosette, sunflowers wheels and chrysanthemums, sun squares diamond triangles zigzags and crosses.


Punjabi style of motif shows that this is the land of the five rivers with its lush valleys and verdant plains the crafts of the Punjab have a rich and vibrant tradition from the 'royal' of Mughal, motifs of Mughal architecture depicting the richness and intricacy in their motif pattern and designs. The patterns and the motifs vary from floral designs to figures of birds to majestic elephants. Its historical buildings and gardens, the examples are available in Sheesh Mahal and Wazir Khan Mosque, beautiful architectural form showcasing the glasswork shimmering all day and night also the exquisite tile decoration work of its kind.

Frontier motif:

Frontier region are famous for its craftsmanship on textile and metal work with strong Greek influence from the days of Gandhara civilization. Flowering pattern called as the "Phulkari" that reflects a rich and colorful tradition of embroidery generally done on shawls, caps, long shirts and linen. There are often, vibrant geometric patterns and motifs all in primary colors, reflect exquisite work and precision of craftsmanship. The most commonly motifs found are calligraphic motifs, brick design in relief pattern on tiles and ornamental brick ,art trunk painting using folk art designs, kilims or carpet making all are rich in culture and heritage ,all motifs have had a unique quality and unique form the best part that they depict traditional designs.