OUR CRAFT · LUCKNOW
A story, stitched by hand.
From the first motif to the final thread, discover the making of handmade chikankari.
THE MAKING OF CHIKANKARI
Many thoughtful steps. One beautiful piece.
Chikankari is a tradition of delicate hand embroidery associated with Lucknow. Follow a typical making journey below; the order of preparation and finishing can vary by garment and workshop.
01 / PREPARE
Fabric & the first idea.
The journey starts with a suitable fabric and a considered design. Garment pieces may be cut and lightly assembled so the placement of motifs, borders and neckline details can be planned.
Before the needle, a thoughtful beginning.
02 / CHHAPAI
A pattern, gently printed.
Carved wooden blocks transfer the pattern onto the cloth using a temporary printing colour. These floral outlines guide the embroidery; they are not the finished decoration.
A temporary guide for something lasting.
03 / HAND EMBROIDERY
One stitch at a time.
With needle and thread, the artisan works over the printed design. Different stitches build the flowers, leaves and textures, gradually turning a flat outline into delicate hand embroidery.
The handwork at the heart of chikankari.
04 / DHULAI
Let the threadwork emerge.
After embroidery, the fabric is washed to remove the temporary printing marks. Once the guide colour is removed and the cloth has dried, the threadwork can be seen clearly.
The printed guide fades; the embroidery remains.
05 / FINISH & CHECK
The final, careful details.
The embroidered piece is finished and pressed as appropriate for its fabric. Loose threads, seams and the overall finish are checked before the garment is ready to wear.
A final look at every considered detail.
A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE CRAFT
Wear the detail. Carry the story.
Discover the colours, silhouettes and embroidered details in our collection.
Craft imagery is AI-generated for illustration, not photography of our workshop. Replace it with your own process photographs when available.
Process references: D’source / NID — making process · D’source — fabric preparation and chhapai.