Chikankari Mul Chanderi Dress Material Ivory Rose Yoke

An unstitched two piece chikankari dress material from Lucknow ivory fine cotton kurta fabric with a deep yoke of rose pink trellis jaali framed in soft taupe grey stitchwork open diamond medallions resting bare inside the lattice and rose pink lotus sprays with grey green leaf work trailing down the body Matching bottom fabric and a sheer dupatta edged in gold tissue scattered with small pink butis and finished with hand knotted tassels complete the set Genuine hand chikankari shows itself in this trellis In handworked jaali the needle parts the weave and binds each opening with thread nothing is punched or cut so the lattice cells flex slightly in size and angle as they cross the yoke where a machine grid would repeat with mechanical sameness Compare the lotus sprays on the body petal width and stitch density shift a little from spray to spray because each one is embroidered individually rather than programmed Turn the fabric over and you may catch faint printed outlines beneath the stitches the embroiderer s washable guide and a hallmark of genuine Lucknow work Chikankari has been stitched in and around Lucknow for over two centuries largely by women working from home in the old city s quarters each specialising in a few of the craft s dozens of named stitches A two colour yoke this dense trellis framing chains and medallion outlines passes through several practiced hands before it ever reaches a tailor Tailor it to your preferred silhouette the ivory rose pairing carries daytime weddings pujas and summer office wear with equal ease Pair with pearl studs and juttis or let the gold edged dupatta do the talking at festive gatherings