Chikan Salwar Suit

In terms of functionality, the salwar suit is complete in itself. But if Indian women had it their way, their salwar kameez should have chikan embroidery.

Apart from saris, women in India are known to garb themselves in the salwar suit, an A-line dress falling just around the knees paired with slim leggings.

More often than not, the wearer usually accessorizes herself with a dupatta, or scarf, which hangs suspended over the shoulders unto the back.

Superlative aesthetics then rubs off on functionality with a dose of chikankari, which stands for hand embroidery. In its wake is the conception of the Chikan Salwar Suit, a far cry from the bland suit.

Chikan Salwar Suits are configured in various colors, designs and patterns. Yet patterns embroidered into the Chikan Salwar Suit are relative to the thickness of the threads used, among other factors.

Stitches used in this embroidery technique are the backstitch, chain stitch and hemstitch among others.

As tradition goes, white threads are the way to go when it comes to semi-transparent muslin cloth. At any rate, chikankari adapts to a variety of fabrics including synthetic ones. As a result, the possibilities with Chikan Salwar Suit designs are a gamut.

Whereas the heavy embroidered Chikan Salwar Suits in silk and georgette are ideal for marriage ceremonies, light embroidered Chikan Salwar Suits can make for daily wear.

Chikan is a traditional embroidery style with provenance in the city of Lucknow, particularly in the person of Nur Jehan, Mughal Emperor Jahangir's beautiful wife.

One of Lucknow's most famous textile decoration styles, chikan not only adorned salwar suits but also household items women can lay their hands on.

Another type of embroidery made locally in Lucknow is the so-called zari embroidery. In contrast to chikan, the making of zari is of exclusivity to men. This concerns the artful embroidering of gold thread to the textile.