Harvard Book Store Cat on Books Ornament

St. Nicolas specializes in bespoke Christmas decorations. All their decorations are handmade, and the time taken to make each one is reflected in their unique quality. For 25 years St. Nicolas has worked with a small Christian charity in Thailand that helps disadvantaged rural women find work in their community, rather than being forced to leave home to work in a factory. Today, some 200 skilled women work at home sewing these ornaments, and many of them have been doing so for more than 10 years.

Each St. Nicolas Ornament is made using the traditional method of zardozi embroidery. Zari (meaning gold) embroidery originated in Persia and reached India in the 12th century. It is a highly skilled embroidery technique that traditionally uses gold wires and jewels to embellish courtly robes. Zardozi work is a rare and respected craft, with skills passed down from generation to generation.