Suzan-duzi: Baluch needlework from Sistan and Baluchestan

The craft

Baluch women embroider dense geometric fields — often in red, orange, green and white — on dress yokes, sleeves cuffs and the long front pocket (pandol). Mirror pieces are sometimes set into the work.

Time involved

A full dress panel can take many weeks of evening work. The density of stitches, not just the size of the piece, is the main driver of value.

What to check

• Stitches should be tiny, even and completely cover the ground
• Look at the back: neat work shows small, regular passes
• Colours in natural daylight should be stable, not chalky
• Ask whether the piece was made in Iranian Baluchestan; similar work is made across the border

Supporting makers

Cooperatives and NGOs in Zahedan, Saravan and Chabahar have helped Baluch embroiderers sell directly. When buying, ask who stitched the piece and how much of the price reaches her.

A note on this guide

This is a general introduction written by the CraftPersia editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a specialist. Workshop practice varies between towns and families; treat dates and figures as approximate and confirm details with makers, museums or published scholarship before relying on them.