From the archive record
Women sit and carefully work the fabric for the perfect Chikankari or chikan work in a workshop in Lucknow. Lucknow- the state capital of Uttar Pradesh is world renowned for its traditional Chikankari Embroidery. Chikankari is the embroidery work done with the white cotton thread on fine white cotton material. Chikankari is also called as shadow work. The word 'Chikan' is basically derived from Persian word 'Chikeen'. In earlier days, the Chikankari embroidery is traditionally done on mulmul- fine muslin cotton. Due to non-availability of mulmul, now-a-days this work is done on cotton, wool, chiffon, crepe, organde chiffon and silk clothes using contrast color threads. The origin of Chikankari is initiated by the influence of intricate carving patterns of Mughal architecture during their p