How to Care for Your Chikankari Kurtas — The Complete Guide
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Chikankari kurtas are hand-embroidered in Lucknow — each stitch is done by hand. With a little care, they'll last decades. Here's how to look after them properly.
Washing your chikankari kurta
Cotton chikankari
- Hand wash in cold water with a mild liquid detergent (avoid harsh powders)
- Don't soak for more than 5 minutes
- Don't scrub the embroidered areas — gently squeeze suds through the fabric
- Rinse in cold water until water runs clear
Silk, georgette, Banarsi and designer chikankari
- Dry-clean only — these fabrics are delicate and the embellishments (gota-patti, mukaishkari) need professional care
- Mention to the dry cleaner that it's hand-embroidered
Drying
- Never wring a chikankari kurta — gently press water out
- Dry flat in the shade (direct sunlight fades the colour)
- Turn inside-out while drying to protect the embroidery
Ironing
- Iron on the reverse side only — this protects the raised embroidery
- Use medium heat for cotton, low heat for silk and georgette
- Place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the embroidery if pressing the front side
Storage
- Fold and store in a cotton bag (not plastic — plastic traps moisture and damages threads)
- Add a few cloves or a muslin pouch of dried neem leaves to deter insects
- Avoid hanging silk and heavy embroidered pieces for long periods — the weight stretches the fabric
What to avoid
- ❌ Bleach — destroys white thread and discolours fabric
- ❌ Machine wash — agitation pulls embroidery threads
- ❌ Tumble dry — heat damages embroidery
- ❌ Direct sunlight — fades colours
If a thread comes loose
Don't pull it. Snip it close to the fabric with small scissors. The embroidery is so densely worked that one loose thread won't unravel the design.
Quick care card
- 🧼 Hand wash cotton, dry-clean silk
- ☀️ Dry in shade, never in direct sun
- ♨️ Iron on reverse side
- 👜 Store in a cotton bag
Looking for new pieces to add to your wardrobe? Browse our full chikankari collection or our Eid 2026 collection.