Uttar Pradesh: Chikkan Kari

Chikkankari or Chikan embroidery originates from Uttar Pradesh specifically Lucknow! It is currently only made in Lucknow, India (my hometown) and is heavily influenced by Persian Islamic culture due to the Delhi Sultanate then the Mughal Empire. As one of the capitals for both these empires, Lucknow is a cultural hub for fashion, art, music and dance.

This style of embroidery uses block printing and then hand embroidery to do elegant shadow work and running stitches. Chikankari is a difficult style of embroidery to do well with clean lines.

So here's my take of traditional embroidery using only clay! For a size reference, these earrings are only an inch and each piece is hand created to look like real embroidery!

Size: 1 inches

Weight: .01 oz/ 0.2 grams