Delicate white-thread shadow embroidery from Lucknow, worked so finely that much of its texture is felt as much as seen against light fabric.
लखनऊ, उत्तर प्रदेश · Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Traditionally worked in white thread on white muslin or cotton, chikankari uses dozens of distinct stitches, some flat, some raised, some creating a shadow effect visible from the fabric's reverse side, to build floral and paisley patterns without relying on color contrast at all.
Lucknow remains the craft's center and holds Geographical Indication status for it, and while contemporary chikankari now appears in colored thread and on varied fabrics, the finest traditional pieces are still judged by the fineness and evenness of hand-stitching alone.