Handmade Chikankari Sarees – The Journey Behind Alankrit

The journey has not been easy, but it has truly been worth it. Every piece created for my label Alankrit is a labour of love, reflecting the timeless beauty of handmade chikankari sarees, suits and anarkalis. Launching a handloom label taught me that bringing authentic craftsmanship to life requires patience, skill and an eye for detail.
The Entire Process Behind Handmade Chikankari Sarees
Creating a genuine chikankari outfit is a multi-step process that cannot be rushed. At Alankrit, we manage the entire production ourselves:
Printing (Chhapayi) – transferring intricate motifs onto fabric
Embroidery (Kadhhai) – hand-stitching traditional chikankari designs
Stitching (Silai) – shaping the garment with precision
Washing (Dhulaai) – removing the indigo guidelines after embroidery
Dye Process ( ‘ Rangaayi’): The step that gives your outfits vibrant colors of your choice.
For premium pieces such as handmade chikankari sarees and anarkalis, there’s an additional stage of embellishment with zardozi, dabka, cutdana and mukaish work to enhance the look and feel of the fabric.
But this is not the end of the process, the pieces, be it chikankari saree or suits, especially chikankari Anarkali both have to go through an additional step of embellishment, the work of Zardozi, Dabka, Cutdana, Mukaish to enhance the overall look of the Saree, Suits or Anarkalis.
Making Chikankari outfits in premium quality fabrics of Mul cotton, Kota, Silk Organza, Georgette and Mul chanderi is not easy these days. Due to the involvement of fast fashion products many labels have come up with the Chikankari outfits available in lower quality of fabric with machine made embroidery work.
It made promoting handmade chikankari outfits even difficult as the original essence of the craft was slowly getting lost. Chikankari was practiced mostly on comfortable and breathable fabrics, for which we required skilled artisans who could carve the designs beautifully on the fabric.
Therefore I made a resolution that with Alankrit I will be keeping the authenticity of the True Chikankari alive. I decided to narrate a story of the tireless process that goes behind every hand embroidered outfit be it Suits, Sarees, Anarkali , Kaaftans etc.
Why Authentic Handmade Chikankari Matters
Working with high-quality fabrics like mul cotton, kota, silk organza, georgette and mul chanderi is becoming rare. With the rise of fast fashion and machine-made embroidery, many labels offer lower-quality imitations that dilute the true essence of this art form. At Alankrit we’ve made a conscious choice to protect the craft by employing skilled artisans who can carve these intricate designs beautifully by hand.
Our Promise
Through every handmade chikankari saree, suit, anarkali or kaftan we create, we tell the story of the tireless process behind it. Alankrit exists to keep the authenticity of true chikankari alive and to showcase the elegance of India’s rich embroidery heritage.
It all started off as a small work which was truly about passion but 30 years down the line it transformed into something unique and created a legacy. By this experience I learned one of the biggest lessons of my life: true passion, perseverance and hard work may give you a very small start but with patience it will be truly rewarded. My journey has been worth it and nothing less than learning. So on this Teacher’s Day I want every mother, every teacher and every person who is reading this to acknowledge the teacher in you and celebrate the learnings of your life. Happy teacher’s day.