Applique work employees the women folk in the villages of Aligarh of Uttar Pradesh to make the work easier and helps in stabilizing some of the urgent requirements of their family. It is generally known as smaller ornament or method applied on another surface with one piece. The word is said to be borrowed from the French which means applied or thing that has been applied. It is referred to as the surface pattern, which is used to decorate a garment or product. Applique with the needlework method in which patterns with figurative scenes are made by the attachment of smaller pieces of fabric to the backing cloth with distinct color and texture.
These works are widely used for quilting that is made with both applique and patchworks. Applique generally refers to fabric used with different designs of shapes on the trim of a garment that can be either sewn or glued.
Applique work is generally done by women to their own garments, which depict the stylized motifs. Motifs are cut and stitched to the fabric such that pattern appears in two colors. Vitality and desire seem to find through the oranges, yellow and vibrant scarlet’s to provide the mood and pace.
It is based on patchwork in which pieces of colored and patterned fabric is precisely cut in different sizes, shapes and colors and stitched together on a simple upbringing to form a composite piece. Aligarh is known for its tents or shamiana applique as the same technique is more used for beautifying dress materials. Applique shamiana are found to be normally used for religious and social get together. It is a technique in which pieces of material are stitched onto the ground fabric for embellishing purpose, which is believed to be developed by the possibilities by sewing patches onto the damaged cloth. Range of materials can be employed in applique such as notably cloth, felt and leather.