Chikankari Embroidery: Stitching the Heritage of Lucknow
Written by Punya Singh
Chikankari, one of the most beloved embroidery techniques, bestows garments with a delicate and opulent charm. This traditional fabric embellishment has garnered global recognition, with Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, emerging as a renowned hub for its distinctive Chikankari embroidery. What sets traditional Lucknowi Chikankari apart is its incorporation of intricate floral motifs and creeping designs into the fabric. The craft thrives in the rural villages surrounding Lucknow, where more than 5000 families are engaged in this exquisite embroidery tradition. In a testament to its significance, Chikankari received Geographical Indication (GI) status in Lucknow in December 2008, solidifying its reputation as the sole epicenter of this craft. Chikankari stands as a truly unique form of hand embroidery, distinguished by its unparalleled intricacy, rendering it virtually impossible to replicate and surpassing the distinctive charm of many other embroidery and stitching techniques combined.
History and Origin of Chikan?
Like every historical tale, Chikankari embroidery has several underlying presumptions and documented facts that reveal its history. As early as the third century BC, references to Indian Chikan work have been discovered. According to the Greek historian and ethnographer Megasthenes, Indians wore floral muslins. There are numerous myths surrounding the Chikankari embroidery technique's origins in India. A traveller who was passing through a village close to Lucknow allegedly stopped and asked a struggling farmer for water. Delighted by the peasant's generosity, the traveller taught him the art of Chikankari, ensuring that he would never go hungry in his life. Another tale relating to the development of Chikankari takes place at the Mughal court of Jahangir, where the talented and beautiful queen Nur Jahan was a devotee of Chikan embroidery. Her dreamy white needlework won the king's favour, and she soon attained fame and imperial patronage.??
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Process of Chikankari?
Chikankari is a technique that involves hand-stitching on various textile fibres delicately and artistically. Simple tools are used in highly detailed work to embellish beautiful motifs on plain or light-coloured fabrics.?
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Types of Stitches?
Chikankari embroidery work can be divided into three main categories: flat stitches, embossed stitches, and jaali stitches.?
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1. The fine stitches that stick close to the fabric are known as flat stitches.?
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2.?Embossed stitches are bolder than flat stitches and have a grainy appearance.?
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3. Jaali stitches are the speciality of Chikan work and give a delicate net effect. These jaalis are made by carefully separating the wrap and weft threads so that tiny gaps appear in the fabric. One jaali can be distinguished from another by the way these openings are shaped and stitched.?
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Motifs?
As a Persian-influenced art form, Chikankari embroidery typically uses floral motifs and designs with the addition of stems, leaves, and other natural elements. In addition to floral motifs, the Paisley motif, which has a bean-like appearance, includes palm leaves, grass stalks, bird and animal motifs like peacocks and butterflies, as well as geometrical and styled patterned motifs. This gives artists virtually endless creative options. In the beginning, Chikankari was only done on white fabric with white embroidery, but it has since expanded to include both conventional and unusual color combinations. Originally done on traditional muslin cloth, Chikankari embroidery is now done on lighter fabrics like georgette, chiffon, organza, cotton, and silk. The concept behind the availability of multiple fabrics is that lighter-weight cloth requires less effort than heavy and hard fabrics. Creepers are the most typical motif used in Lucknowi Chikankari artwork. Jasmine, rose, flowering stems, lotus, etc. are just a few examples of floral motifs that are either used all over the garment or in the corners.
Chikankari has developed into a well-known fabric art throughout the world. This cutting-edge embroidery technique allows you to create a wide variety of clothing items. It is undeniably true that Chikankari has maintained its exceptional charm while successfully surviving for centuries under sustainable conditions. The only thing that has changed over time is the modification, which has only helped Chikankari embroidery become more well-known and eminent around the world while demonstrating its enduring beauty.
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