Applique is decorative work in which one piece of cloth is sewn or fixed onto another. It has spawned many variations, allowing the use of disimilar material such as glass pieces, metals, wood or metal wires to be attached onto the base cloth..

Orissa's applique handicraft creations are very fascinating. The Pipli village in Puri district of Orissa is the main center engaged in this work. The art is widely used to ornament handbags, bed sheets, wall hangings, purses, cushion covers, letter cases, pillow covers, canopies and garden umbrellas.

Applique work at one time had reached the artistic heights of excellence, and these skills were extensively employed to make canopies, banners, umbrellas and trashas (fans) for festivals held in Puri's famous Jagannath temple.

This beautiful craft is usually practiced on dazzling red, purple, black, yellow, green and white fabric. The craftsman first prepares the base material in the shape of square, rectangle, circle or oval which forms the background for the pieces of art.

Applique motifs in contrasting colors are then cut in the shape of animals, birds, flowers, leaves, celestial bodies and geometric shapes. These motifs are then stitched onto the base cloth in aesthetic arrangements.

The beauty of applique craft lies in its many intricate stitches known as bakhia, guntha, turpa, chikan and other very delicate and esoteric embroidery techniques. Nowadays, small mirrors and bright metal pieces are used to enhance its beauty.