A hand-embroidered Chikankari piece is days of needlework — treat it right and it outlasts almost everything else in your wardrobe. Here is the care routine we recommend for every piece we sell.

Washing

1. First wash: always dry clean. Especially for georgette and anything with fine jaali work.
2. After that, gentle hand wash: cold water, a small amount of mild liquid detergent, 10 minutes of soaking, no wringing. Press water out between towels.
3. Never machine wash embroidery — agitation pulls the threadwork. If you must, use a mesh laundry bag on the gentlest cycle, inside out.

Keeping whites white

Skip chlorine bleach — it yellows cotton over time and weakens thread. Instead, soak in cold water with a spoon of white vinegar, or dry the garment in indirect sunlight for an hour (direct midday sun fades fabric).

Drying and ironing

Dry flat in shade. Iron on the reverse side with a cloth between the iron and the embroidery, medium heat, never steam directly onto the threadwork.

Storage

Fold with acid-free tissue (or a clean cotton cloth) between layers, store in a breathable cotton bag — never plastic, which traps moisture and yellows whites. Refold along different lines every few months so creases don’t set.

Cared for this way, Chikankari genuinely improves with age — cotton softens, the drape gets better. Ready to add a piece worth caring for? Browse the collection or start with a classic from our kurtas & kurtis.