Guides & JournalBalochi Embroidery (Doch): Designs and Mirror Work
Balochi embroidery — called doch in Balochi — is dense, geometric hand needlework in bright silk thread, often set with tiny mirrors, and it's what makes the Balochi dress so striking. It is made mostly by women at home, known as dochgirs, and a single full dress can take about a month. Here's how doch is made, the designs and mirror work, how to tell genuine hand work, and how to care for it so it lasts for generations.
What makes Balochi embroidery different
Balochi embroidery is often said to have more than a hundred basic designs, with families and areas each keeping their own favourites.
- Geometric patterns — tightly packed shapes, diamonds and borders rather than flowing flowers.
- Density — the embroidery covers whole panels, so little base fabric shows.
- Bright silk thread — reds, oranges, greens, yellows and whites on dark or rich base fabric.
- Mirror work — small mirrors stitched in to catch the light.
- Placement — on the chest panel, the long pandol pocket, the sleeves and the shalwar cuffs.
Who makes doch
Doch is traditionally made by Baloch women at home, often after the day's housework, and the skill is passed from mothers to daughters. Women who take embroidery orders are known as dochgirs. According to a 2021 Dawn report, one full dress takes about a month, and customers often supply their own fabric and thread bought in Karachi, Quetta, Turbat or Gwadar.
Balochi mirror work
Mirror work means stitching small round or shaped mirrors onto the fabric, held in place by a ring of stitches around the edge. In Balochi embroidery the mirrors are usually small and worked into the geometric pattern, so they sparkle without overpowering the thread work. On genuine hand pieces each mirror is stitched in, not glued.
Hand doch vs machine doch
Machine embroidery now copies Balochi designs quickly and cheaply. It can look good from a distance, but hand doch has a depth and texture machines can't match — and it lasts far longer. Hand embroidery is so durable that an old panel can be cut out and sewn onto new fabric.
| Check | Hand doch | Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Back of fabric | Thread ends, slight unevenness | Neat, uniform backing |
| Repeats | Tiny variations | Identical |
| Mirrors | Hand-stitched edges | Glued or none |
Caring for embroidered Balochi clothes
Treated well, a hand-embroidered dress can last for decades.
- Hand wash gently in cold water, or dry clean for heavily embroidered pieces.
- Don't wring or twist — press water out in a towel.
- Dry flat in the shade so colours don't fade.
- Iron from the back on a folded towel so the embroidery isn't flattened.
- Store folded in cotton cloth, away from damp.
Selling Balochi embroidery online
Dochgirs can reach buyers far beyond their own town. On dapxop you can open a store on a free plan at dapxop.com/sell, show your work with close-up photos, take an advance for made-to-order dresses (paid to dapxop and checked before the order reaches you), and dapxop books the courier pickup from your home. How to Price Handmade Products: Pricing Formula helps you charge fairly for weeks of work.
More on the full outfit: Balochi Dress: Names, Designs and Tradition.
Are you a dochgir? Open a free store and sell your embroidery across Pakistan.
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Frequently asked
What is Balochi embroidery called?
It is called doch. Women who make it are often called dochgirs.
What technique is Balochi embroidery famous for?
Dense geometric hand embroidery in bright silk thread, often combined with mirror work.
How long does Balochi embroidery take?
A full hand-embroidered dress takes about a month, according to a 2021 Dawn report on Balochi embroiderers.
Where is embroidery placed on a Balochi dress?
On the chest panel, the long pandol pocket down the front, the sleeves and cuffs, and the cuffs of the shalwar.
How do I wash a Balochi embroidered dress?
Hand wash gently in cold water or dry clean, don't wring it, dry flat in the shade and iron from the back.
Can I sell Balochi embroidery online?
Yes. You can open a free dapxop store, list your pieces with real photos, take advances on made-to-order work, and dapxop arranges delivery from your home.