👗 A Story Woven by Hands, Not Just Threads

Imagine this: You walk into a store or scroll through a page filled with beautiful white-on-pastel embroidery. The tag reads “Chikankari,” but… is it really the timeless handwork that echoes centuries of tradition — or is it mass-produced, machine-stamped imitation?

In an age where machine embroidery mimics everything, knowing how to spot real, hand-embroidered Chikankari is both an art and an appreciation. Let’s unravel it, thread by thread.

🔍 What is Authentic Chikankari?

Chikankari is a traditional embroidery technique that originated in Lucknow, India — known for its delicate floral motifs, subtle shadow work, and stitches like bakhiya, phanda, murri, and jali. Each piece takes days, sometimes weeks, to complete — done by women artisans sitting in their courtyards, working in silence and sync.

In contrast, machine embroidery often uses uniform patterns, synthetic threads, and automated stitching that lacks soul — and unfortunately, is now mass-marketed as “Chikankari”.

🪡 Hand vs. Machine: Key Differences You Can Spot

✅ 1. Irregularity is Beauty

Hand Chikankari has slight imperfections — no two phandas are the same. That’s the charm.
Machine-made pieces look too perfect, too aligned. Every motif is copy-paste.

🌸 Tip: Flip the fabric — on real handwork, the back will look slightly messy. Machine work is too neat underneath.

✅ 2. Feel the Fabric, Feel the Story

Hand embroidery sits within the fabric, almost blending into the weave.
Machine embroidery feels raised, stiff, and often harsh to touch.

🌿 Real Chikankari feels soft, like it belongs to the fabric, not on top of it.

✅ 3. Stitch Techniques Give it Away

A trained eye can spot a Murri or Bakhiya stitch — these are hard to replicate by machine.

Machine embroidery uses threads that look thick, synthetic, and lack the intricate thread play of handwork.

🧵 Pro Tip: Use a magnifying glass. If the threads loop inconsistently and enter the fabric from different angles, it’s hand-done.

✅ 4. Price Tag = Time Tag

Hand embroidery is time-consuming. It shows in the price. If someone’s selling a “pure Chikankari kurta” for ₹800 — chances are it’s machine-made.

Authentic Chikankari is slow fashion. You’re not just paying for the product — you’re paying for the artisan’s time, skill, and story.

🛍️ Where Can You Buy Authentic Hand Chikankari?

At Shwet Artistry, every piece is hand-embroidered by women artisans from Lucknow and surrounding villages. We don’t mass-produce. We don’t cut corners. We create heirlooms, not inventory.

Whether it’s a festive Chikankari saree, a daily-wear kurta, or an elegant wedding dupatta, our designs are rooted in heritage — and handwoven with love.

💬 Why It Matters

Choosing authentic Chikankari isn’t just about buying fashion — it’s about preserving tradition, empowering rural artisans, and standing up for slow, soulful craft in a fast-paced world.

So next time you’re tempted by that “handcrafted” label, take a closer look.
Sometimes, the thread tells the truth.