When we talk about chikankari, the image of the beautiful intricate work and designs appears in front of our eyes. The real chikankari takes weeks and sometimes months to complete. But when I say real, I mean the authentic chikankari done by professional karigars, which is costly. One might wonder how to spot fake chikankari because you can easily get deceived by people selling fake chikankari at the price of an original.
That’s the reason why some people don’t trust sellers and online stores to buy authentic chikankari kurtas. Today, I’ll share a precise Fake VS real chikankari guide to help you make an informed decision while on your hunt to find a genuine hand-embroidered chikankari kurta.
How to Identify Real/Original VS Fake Chikankari?
Chikankari, fake or authentic, cannot be easily identified, and thus, we get fooled by shopkeepers. The problem is how easily it can be replicated. The machine work usually takes less time and can produce more chikan Kari kurtas than an artisan with hand work.
This is why more sellers use malpractice to replicate an original chikankari work. They sell it at higher prices, telling in the name of the original when it is not. Thus, people often get duped and buy a fake chikankari kurta whose embroidery comes off in no time.
This is the reason why it’s crucial to look for authentic shops with good reputations or an online store with positive ratings and pictures to ensure authenticity.
How To Spot Fake Chikankari?
There are several ways to determine whether it is fake or real chikankari. You just have to follow these methods to figure it out easily.
Look For Imperfections
The intricate design and fragile threadwork cannot be perfectly done, as that’s how humans work. The threads are often seen hanging in different sizes, which indicates that the artisan stopped at one spot and started from another.
These threads are tied into knots and are unevenly spaced. Also, the chikankari is not perfect and flawless all the time as the karigars vary, and that’s how you can see haste or imperfect embroidery designs sometimes, but don’t worry, that’s the beauty of it. Chikankari even with flaws, looks so delicate and beautiful.
Faulty Fabric Or Thread Material
Mostly, chikankari is done on fabrics that look and feel rich, such as cotton, silk, georgette, etc. Also, the thread used in chikankari is fine and soft, as is Resham and cotton. Resham gives a soft smooth look to the embroidery.
Whereas, the thread used in fake chikankari can easily get broken because they use cheap quality thread that is not resham or good quality cotton, but it’s so delicate that it can break easily.
Similarly, chikankari is always done on a good-quality fabric that is flowy, more breathable and feels light on the skin. The fabric used can be pure cotton, georgette, silk, or chiffon. While the fake chikankari kurtas are stiff, and the fabric is not flowy enough. Also, it can shrink or feel uncomfortable to wear.
Natural VS Synthetic Dye
You can also easily identify fake chikankari if the dye used isn’t permanent. If the color is bleeding you can tell that they didn’t use natural permanent colors that can also irritate skin and cause skin problems. Always check if the embroidery is stained or the color is coming off; that’s when you know it’s fake.
Check The Price Tag
If you ever come across affordable chikankari kurtas that are way cheaper than you expect, know that they are not authentic. Real chikankari can never be achieved without hard work and using authentic materials. Thus, it costs a lot. Always remember that authentic chikankari is expensive.
People selling chikankari kurti under 300 are not authentic. They can be replicas of those high-quality original chikankari dresses. Hence, you must go for a more expensive option to ensure authenticity.
Imperfect Embroidery
The designs on the kurta can appear imperfect because that’s how a human will weave. Machine embroidery would look more perfect, complete, and look uniform. The size of the butis or flowers would be equally weaven. While handwork is not as flawless, the artisans can make mistakes.
Therefore, the imperfections, such as the thread work not being of the same quality, empty spaces, and the inside of the kurta looking messy because of the hanging thread, are some of the uniqueness that can help you easily spot a fake kurta.
Frequently Asked Questions | Fake VS Real Chikankari
How to wash a chikankari kurta to avoid damage?
You need to look for the label on the kurta or dress to learn how to wash it. Some kurtas can be washed in a machine, but some are so delicate they must be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. Also, to save the chikankari kurta and embroidery, always wash it in cold water to avoid damage and increase the kurta’s life span.
Is Chikankari the same as Lucknowi?
Chikankari originated from Lucknow, the reason why most people call it Lucknowi. While chikankari and Lucknowi are the same, the word Lucknowi emphasizes the region from which the work is derived.
Closure
I hope this brief Fake VS Real Chikankari comparison would have helped you determine the right choice. But if you can, you should visit stores in Aminabad and Chowk in Lucknow to get the best chikankari. Still, if you can’t, you can always look for a trusted source online to get an authentic chikankari kurta, saree, or lehenga.
There are several reputed online websites selling the best quality chikankari kurtas at reasonable prices, some of which are based in Lucknow, so you can get authentic chikankari right from the city. But make sure you check reviews with photos and research well before purchasing.