Cushion covers

Blockmaker and calligrapher Mohammad Ayub is proud of his skills. He makes geometric patterns, birds and other elegant forms with any words you may suggest to him, and calligraphy was always in his blood.
Mohammad Ayub chose Kabir, the poet, weaver and social reformer from Banaras to inspire him. Familiar words of one of his favourite hymns 'kahate Kabir, suno bhai sadho / mai sadho' were carved into a wooden block, accompanied by a series of tiny letters. Waris, a young zari and zardozi embroiderer who is skilled with the needle, uses a wide range of threads and sequins to embroider these words and letters, after printing impressions of the blocks on shades of velvet to create cushions with an antique look.