Behind the Craft
The Making of Chikankari
An age-old art, perfected over generations
Chikankari is not just embroidery — it's a meticulous, handcrafted process rooted in tradition and patience. Every piece passes through multiple hands and steps before it reaches you. Here's how the magic unfolds:
1. Fabric Selection
“The canvas of our art.”
The journey begins with choosing the right fabric. Sheer, lightweight materials like mul cotton, kota doria, and georgette are preferred, as they beautifully showcase the intricacy of each stitch. These fabrics also allow the hand embroidery to stand out with grace.
2. Hand Block Printing
“Designs printed, by hand and heart.”
Once the fabric is selected, artisans use wooden blocks to print the embroidery patterns by hand using azo-free dyes. These motifs act as guidelines for the embroiderers and are washed off later, leaving behind only the threadwork.
3. Hand Embroidery
“Where the magic happens.”
This is the heart of chikankari. Skilled artisans, many of whom have been practicing for decades, bring the design to life using traditional stitches like bakhiya, phanda, and jaali. This stage alone can take weeks or even months, depending on the complexity of the piece.
4. Washing & Finishing
“Refining the beauty.”
After the embroidery is complete, the fabric goes through a careful washing process to remove the printed outlines and soften the material. It is then sun-dried and lightly starched.
5. Add-on Embellishments
“A touch of sparkle.”
Finally, intricate embellishments like pearls, cut dana, mukaish, and sequins are added by hand to elevate the elegance of the piece, blending tradition with a touch of contemporary charm.
Behind every Firgun piece is not just a process — but a person, a story, a legacy.
What you wear is what you support.