Parvaze & Mayer

The artistic partnership between Parvaze, a master of Kashmiri Jalakdozi embroidery, and Peter Mayer, a New York-based designer with a background in film, interior architecture, and textile arts, has given rise to a body of work that fuses centuries-old craftsmanship with bold, modern design. Working under the name Parvaze + Mayer, the duo creates hand-stitched wool-on-cloth artworks that are as emotionally resonant as they are visually striking.

Parvaze is among a diminishing number of artisans who continue the meticulous chain-stitch tradition known locally as Jalakdozi. Using a simple hooked needle called an Aari, he draws with thread—looping silk or wool into densely textured patterns across handwoven cloth. This ancestral technique, passed down through generations, often requires weeks or months to complete a single piece. Parvaze’s expertise lies not only in the precision of his stitching, but in his sensitivity to rhythm, space, and flow—qualities that elevate his work beyond the decorative and into the realm of fine art. Peter Mayer brings over three decades of experience in creative direction, production design, and textile development. His compositions—rooted in abstraction, natural forms, and emotional landscapes—serve as starting points for the collaborative works. Together, the two artists engage in a rich, iterative process: Mayer drafts visual concepts and motifs, which Parvaze then interprets through embroidery, shaping the artwork as it evolves.

Each piece in the Parvaze + Mayer collection is a tactile record of cross-cultural exchange—where heritage and innovation meet in thread. The work speaks to sustainability, patience, andthe enduring power of handcraft in a mechanized world. These textiles are not only visuallycompelling; they tell stories—of land, of labor, of legacy.