Chikankari has a deep religious and cultural significance. By wearing it a person feels connected to his roots and culture. Chikankari embroidery is done by hand. It takes a lot of hard work and patience, making each piece unique and special. Chikankari uses a variety of stitches and designs, such as flowers, leaves and latticework. These designs are very beautiful and detailed. Chikankari is done on different types of fabrics, such as cotton, chiffon, georgette etc. Because of this they are suitable for every season and occasion. The roots of the art of Chikankari go back to the Mughal period. This art has a historical significance and wearing it is a way of preserving that history and heritage. Every chikankari outfit has its own identity as it is handmade. The artist's own creativity and style is visible in each piece.
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Chikankari is a traditional Indian embroidery art mainly prevalent in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. There are several reasons why every dress in Chikankari is unique:
- Handmade Embroidery: Most of the work in Chikankari is done by hand. Each embroiderer uses his own style and technique, making each dress unique.
- Various designs and patterns: Chikankari has a variety of designs and patterns, such as flowers, leaves, and geometric shapes. Every design has a different pattern, which makes the dress unique.
- Artisan's Style: Every artisan has his own unique style and technique. This style is visible in every outfit and makes it unique.
- Customization as per demand: Many times the embroidery is done as per the demand of the customer, making the dress special and personalised.
- Fabric Type: Chikankari is done on different types of fabrics, such as cotton, georgette, chiffon, and silk. Every fabric displays the embroidery in a different way, making every dress look different.
- Different types of threads: The quality and colours of the threads used in chikankari also vary. This diversity gives each dress a different identity.
Types of Chikankari Stitches:
There different types of famous Chikankari stitches are Pechni, Bijli, Ghaspatti, Makra, Kaudi, Hathkadi, Banjkali, Saaji, Karan, Kapkapi, Madaraji, Bulbul-chasham, Tajmahal, Janjira, Kangan, Dhaniya-patti, Rojan, Meharki, Chanapatti, Balda, Joda, Keel Kangan, Bulbul, Sidhaul, Grass strip and many others.
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In Conclusion, Every outfit in chikankari is unique because it's made by different craftsmen. Each of them have their own unique style of embroidering the cloth. Even if these craftsmen are provided with the same block printed pattern, they will end up embroidering in a different way as per their own unique skill set. Hence every piece in chikankari is a unique piece of craft in itself.