What is soutache embroidery?

Soutache jewelry is becoming more and more popular in the last few years. But what is it exactly? How do you pronounce it? Let me help you 🙂

Soutache embroidery is a aged embroidery technique, which was initially used for making decorative elements sewn on clothes. Name comes from french ‘soutache’ (pron. soo-tash), which means braid used to decorate cut fabric.

Today, artists and designers are using this method in making jewelry, belts and handbags. Soutache braids can be connected with gemstones, minerals, silver, crystals, glass and different beads. Using this method, amazing accessories can be made which are full of glamour and color, and has a regal royal presence. This kind of jewelry, although it has long history, became popular in the nineties through Israeli artist Dori Csengeri.

When you are looking at soutache jewelry you can refer wrong impression that soutache braids are glued with each other. In reality they are all sewn together with thin threads or special gimp.
Some artists glue the soutache braids together but in my opinion, there’s nothing more durable than pieces sewn carefully together by a thread. Thanks to this, my customers can enjoy their jewelry for many, many years.

Since the technique of soutache embroidery is so laborious, demanding and requires focused precision (some pieces can take up to several dozens hours), jewelry made with this method is very luxury and unique.