The Craft

The Craft of Welta Chikankari

Lucknowi Chikankari — delicate threadwork, careful finishing and timeless ethnicwear, made by hand.

The Welta Chikankari Story

From a single thread to an heirloom.

Every Welta piece passes through five pairs of hands in the old by-lanes of Lucknow — nothing rushed, nothing machine-made.

Awadh · Lucknow

Where every thread begins.

01 · Design & Block Carving
The naqsha-band draws the motif; the chhapa karigar carves it into a seasoned wooden block with fine chisels — days of work to perfect one design.
3–7 days per block
02 · Block Printing
The block is dipped in a washable blue dye and pressed onto the cloth — laying down the guideline pattern the needle will follow. The precision of chhapai decides the final beauty.
Cotton · Georgette · Mul
03 · Hand Embroidery
Stretched on the adda frame, the karigar embroiders each motif by hand — from bakhiya shadow work to raised murri knots and open jaali. The soul of the craft.
40–90 hours per piece
04 · Washing & Drying
The finished cloth is washed by hand at the river bank until every trace of the blue guideline dissolves away, then hung to dry in the open sun. Only the white embroidery remains.
River wash · sun-dried
05 · Thread Trimming & Finishing
Every loose thread is trimmed by hand, each stitch inspected, the jaali cleaned. Any mukaish or badla accents go on last. The piece is ready — an heirloom, born of patience.
Finished & inspected

Design & Block Carving
The naqsha-band draws the motif; the chhapa karigar carves it into a seasoned wooden block with fine chisels — days of work to perfect one design.
3–7 days per block
Block Printing
The block is dipped in a washable blue dye and pressed onto the cloth — laying down the guideline pattern the needle will follow. The precision of chhapai decides the final beauty.
Cotton · Georgette · Mul
Hand Embroidery
Stretched on the adda frame, the karigar embroiders each motif by hand — from bakhiya shadow work to raised murri knots and open jaali. The soul of the craft.
40–90 hours per piece
Washing & Drying
The finished cloth is washed by hand at the river bank until every trace of the blue guideline dissolves away, then hung to dry in the open sun. Only the white embroidery remains.
River wash · sun-dried
Thread Trimming & Finishing
Every loose thread is trimmed by hand, each stitch inspected, the jaali cleaned. Any mukaish or badla accents go on last. The piece is ready — an heirloom, born of patience.
Finished & inspected

Chikankari is patience, made visible.

The Welta Atelier · Alambagh, Lucknow

A 400-year-old embroidery tradition from the lanes of Lucknow, known for its soft, white shadow-work and intricate floral motifs.

Each design is drawn, block-printed and then embroidered stitch by stitch — bakhiya, phanda, jaali and murri worked by hand.

Pieces are washed, pressed and checked individually, so the embroidery sits clean and the fabric stays soft to the touch.

The result is clothing that feels both rooted and contemporary — made to move from everyday to celebration with grace.

Handcrafted in Lucknow