Lukhnavi Chikan Kurta Pajama Set with Embroidered Paisleys
Machine or hand-wash cold, inside out. Air-dry in shade. Iron on medium heat. Wash with similar colours the first time.
Description
There are garments that whisper, and then there is Chikankari, which sings. This kurta pajama set carries the soul of Lucknow in every thread, worked in the city's signature shadow-embroidery tradition where artisans coax delicate paisleys from fabric using a vocabulary of stitches refined over centuries. The kurta is rendered in fluid georgette, a cloth that holds the lightness essential to Chikankari's gossamer character, while the pajama is cut from pure cotton for a grounded, breathable comfort. Together, the two fabrics observe a considered balance between occasion and ease. The embroidered paisleys, arranged with the restrained abundance that distinguishes Lukhnawi work from its imitators, bring an architectural quality to what is otherwise a supremely wearable silhouette. Available in four considered colourways, from the quiet authority of Black Onyx to the gentle warmth of Flamingo Pink, this set suits festive gatherings and ceremonial family occasions equally. Pair with mojris in tan or ivory and a simple silk stole to let the embroidery hold its proper prominence. Keep jewellery spare, perhaps a single strand or a pair of antique silver cufflinks.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Chikankari is Lucknow's oldest whisper, a needlework tradition that flourished under Nawabi patronage in the courts of Awadh and has endured for over three centuries in the bylanes of the old city. Artisans here work shadow stitches, phanda, and murri onto fabric with a patience that resists urgency. On this georgette kurta, the paisley motifs carry that same unhurried precision: each curved teardrop form rendered in white thread against the ground colour, rooted in the Persian buta and made wholly Lakhnavi through generations of Muslim karigars in neighbourhoods like Chowk and Nakhas.
How to style
For a festive evening, pair the Flamingo Pink with ivory palazzo trousers and polki jhumkas at the ears. The Black Onyx reads effortlessly at a formal dinner alongside slim churidar and tan kolhapuri sandals. Blue Elixir suits a summer wedding when worn with a printed dupatta in complementary indigo and silver oxidised bangles stacked at the wrist. Brook Green, quiet and considered, works beautifully for a daytime puja or intimate gathering when matched with ivory khussa mojris and a single strand of freshwater pearls.
Fabric & care
Georgette is a delicate, lightly creped weave that loosens under heat and pressure. Hand wash the kurta separately in cold water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent, supporting the fabric fully so embroidered sections do not stretch. Never wring. Roll in a soft towel and air dry flat, away from direct sunlight, which fades georgette quickly. The pure cotton pajama may be machine washed on a gentle cycle. Store the kurta loosely folded in muslin, not polythene, to allow the fibre to breathe and the chikankari threadwork to remain undistorted over time.
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