Chikan kurtis retain the traditional woman’s clothing of India and Pakistan, and are suitable for formal occasions and also for more casual fashions. In the seventies, Kurti were fashionable for western hippy women, but these styles were cheaper and shorter versions of the traditional Indian shirt.

It is possible to buy these kinds of kurti still, in western department stores: however, they do not really resemble the traditional Chikan kurtis, which are made by tailors.

Chikan kurtis would be more formal dress, although they are also suitable for casual wear. Fully embroidered Chikan kurtis are a beautiful addition to any wardrobe.

Chikan kurtis would traditionally be worn with salwar or churidar pants, but they may be worn with jeans in more casual situations.

Many chikan kurtis are much embroidered on the front, with the sewn hem lines continuing on the back.

Other embroidery on the shirt, such as decoration between the neck and hem, will only be at the front.

The traditional panel of buttons at the front is a place for more stitching, although Chikan kurtis can be bought without this panel.

Whether traditional or modern in cut and style, embroidered kurtis are attractive and elegant.

Stole chikan kurtis are another version of the traditional kurti, with a looser design, and often without sleeves.

These embroidered stoles are seen as suitable for nightwear, and the chikan tradition of stitching through muslin to produce lace-like embroidery is particularly apt here.

Chikan is a traditional Indian embroidery form, and the exquisite stitching of flora and animals upon kurtis and stoles makes the chikan clothing fashionable everywhere.