Chikankari Care Guide: Make It Last

Hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent — avoid hot water, which can cause colour bleeding and weaken embroidery thread over time.

Wash deep or bright colours separately for the first few washes, since natural-dyed and some coloured threads can bleed slightly early on.

Never wring the fabric — this twists and stresses the embroidery threads, which can loosen stitches over repeated washes.

Dry flat or on a padded hanger in shade, not direct sunlight — prolonged sun exposure fades both fabric colour and embroidery thread.

Avoid tumble drying; the heat and tumbling motion is hard on hand stitches.

Press on a low-to-medium heat setting, ideally from the reverse side so the iron doesn't sit directly on embroidered thread.

Store folded rather than on a hanger for long periods, to avoid the embroidery's weight stretching the fabric at the shoulders.

Slight variation in motif spacing or thread tension between two pieces — or even within one piece — is normal in hand-embroidered chikankari and isn't a manufacturing defect.