A timeless fashion

Chikank
ari
Chikankari

Chikankari
=
About
Chikankari
The word 'chikan is probably a derivative from the Persian
word chikin or 'chikeen' which means a kind of
embroidered fabric

The craft of Chikan work, often referred to as LucknowChikan, is an

ancient art form which involves white floral embroidery, intricately
worked with needle and raw thread

It is done on viol, silk, cambric, georgette, terry cotton etc

This is an art, which results in the transformation of the plainest

cotton and organdie into flowing yards of magic

This is a home based industrial activity which is mainly performed

by women artisans and workers
Its Past
3rd century BC byMegasthenes, who mentioned the use of floweredmuslinsby
Indians

The story of a traveller who taught chikan to a peasant in return for drinking
water

However, the most popular, and factually checkable story is that Noor Jahan, the
wife of Mughal emperor Jehangir, introduced the Persian art in India, specially in
Oudh in the 17th century

Started as a white-on-white embroidery form, back in the day, the favoured

fabric was muslin or mulmul as it was best suited to the warm, slightly humid
climate. After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, chikankari artisans spread all over
India, but Lucknow remained the main center, with Awadh a close second

It has survived the loss of royal patronage, suffered deeply at the hands of
commercialization, lost its way sometimes in mediocrity and yet stayed alive, is a
tribute to the skill and will of the crafts persons who have handed down this
In the
Making
Washing
Block &
Printing finishing
Design

Engravi Embroid Bead

ng ery and
Sequin
work
Basic Chikankari motifs Colours
USP
Due to the variety of stitching-styles involved in Chikankari, it is claimed to
be one of its kind hand embroidery that is impossible to imitate in any
other part of the world

Chikan embroiders claim of about thirty-two stitches, to which they give

delightfully fanciful names

Some named commonly, such as the ulti bakhia for shadow-work, the
tepchi for running stitch, the jaali for the net that reminds us of filigree
windows in Mughal architecture

Some of the names in their local language are; Sidhual, Makra, Mandarzi,
Bulbulchashm, Tajmahal, Phooljali, Phanda, Dhoom, Gol murri, Janjeera,
Keel, Kangan, Bakhia, Dhania Patti, lambi Murri, Kapkapi, Karan Phool, Bijli,
Ghaspatti, Rozan, Meharki, Kaj, Chameli, Chane ki Patti, Balda, Jora,
Pachni, Tapchim Kauri, Hathkati & Daraj of various types
Did you know

Varieties Price Care

Swapping Muslin for A regular chikankari Lucknow Chikan

lighter fabrics like kurtis is priced between embroidery should
cotton, silk, chiffon, Rs. 800 Rs. 2000 ideally be dry
organza and net with a cleaned, although
view to have A pair of palazzo pants this also depends on
lightweight fabric can cost you anything the fabric.
between Rs. 1000 and
This makes the Rs. 5000. A silk garment needs
embroidery process to be dry cleaned
easier Beware of cheaper while cotton can be
versions ranging handwashed at
The needle can pass between Rs.200 and home
through without much Rs.500, as they are
resistance but also mostly made using
ensures that the work machines, and dont
stands out on its own have the precision and
Did you know

Dedicated almost 20 years in

uplifting the status of traditional
crafts in India and chikankari has
remained their specialty

Actress Judi Dench, of the James

Bond series, wearing one of their
 Claim to
Fame
Another Hollywood exposure includes pop sensation
Madonna wearing a Chikankari-embroidered garment in
her film, The Next Big Thing
Reality Check
Tips to spot fake Indian weaves from the original ones:

See the kind of embroidery the piece of art boasts of.

If it is handcrafted, the cloth will have French knots, shadow stitch, criss cross
embroidery, while in the machine made ones, you do not find these embroideries.
One of the main things to identify is the neatness of the work. An original
handmade garment is checked for precision and neatness, before it is ready to be
sold. So, a garment with uneven stitching, loose threads and a thicker fabric
only indicates that a machine has been used in the production.
There is a limited number of stitches which is possible to do with a machine and is
mostly around BAKHIYA and shadow. but there are 32 most used stitches in
Chikanakri which is not possible to do via machine. Machine Chikan embroidery is
not able to replace the intricate stitch pattern even in the 2-3 stitch variants it is
able to make.
Chikan embroidery without the local Pasley Lucknowi MEHRABS, tree BAILS, JAALI,
PHANDA, DARAJ, work cannot be imagined.
Our
Ranking 3
9
9
11 Chikank
Chikank ari kurta
15
Chikank ari
ari kurtis
Chikank
ari Saree
Chikank
ari Sarees
Search
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FB Interest

9,80,000 people are interested in India Chikan

92% o the people who like Chikan are Women

2,40,000 women who like Chikan are in the age group of 25

29 years
Current scenario

The Chikankari industry boasts of 2.5 lakh karigars, one of the

biggest artisan clusters in India

Chikans fame and various governmental initiatives have kept the

demand of Chikankari growing

.
 Chikank
not just an
ari
embroidery!
 Chikank
A timeless
fashion ari