Applique work has a long-standing history, and its path waves throughout the world, from Africa to the regions of Sindh, Pakistan. So it is fair to say that no single place can be pointed out as its soul place of origin. 

So, the question that most evidently arises is- How is the history of this world-famous art form connected to the state of Odisha? Also known as Chandua, applique work's history can be traced back to the 12th century, from the small village of Pipli in the Puri district. This sewing technique came into existence when clothes got ripped and needed instant fixing. Slowly, the people started adapting it and adding creativity to it to the extent that this style reached its peak of excellence and was then appreciated by the Kings and royalties. 

In ancient Odhisha, appliqué work became a luxury used in the most auspicious and important festivals, especially to decorate Lord Jagganath's chariot. With such vast usage of the art form, soon it became the primary source of income for the handicrafts community in the entire state. 

Not similar to the other forms of art out there, applique work was rather a pleasant accident that took place when harsh financial times forced people to fix torn clothes. They used pieces of small cut fabrics 

to sew onto the rip to hide it, and before anyone knew it, this technique became a real art form!

The art form of Applique became so distinct and popular with time that its identity became a soul aspect of the small village of Pipli, and it came to be known as "Pipli Art." Its origin, dating back to the 12th century, appliqué work became a part of the core tradition of this region. Used in ancient rituals by the Maharajas and their Purohits, as offerings and decorations to Lord Jagganath, appliqué art has been historically and culturally significant. 

Traditionally, Pipli art featured beautiful elements of nature, mythology, and folklore famous in the region. These include the face of Lord Jagannath himself, flowers and trees, and animals like peacocks and elephants.

Applique work is done mainly in two ways. The first and conventional way is to sew small cut pieces of fabric on a larger canvas to obtain the desired shape. The other way of doing it is by laying two fabrics above the other and cutting the desired shape on the top layer to expose the one at the bottom. 

Commonly used fabrics used for appliqué are cotton, velvet, and swede. But with time, different types of fabrics are incorporated into this art form.