A motif is imagined
Flora, architecture and poetry become hand-drawn patterns on translucent paper.
Since the seventeenth century
Our Story
A tradition carried by hands, worn by generations.
Where it beganNot merely embroidery.
Not merely embroidery.
A language of patience.
Lucknowi Dastoor began with a reverence for Chikankari—an art shaped in the courts and courtyards of Lucknow. “Dastoor” means custom or tradition: a living practice passed from one pair of hands to another.
We work with artisan communities to bring these time-honoured stitches into contemporary wardrobes, preserving the soul of the craft while allowing it to move with modern life.
400+years of living craft
32documented stitches
1piece, never identical
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Every stitch begins with stillness.
No machines. No shortcuts. Only practiced hands.
From thought to heirloom
The journey of a single piece
Before it reaches your wardrobe, every piece travels through a rhythm of drawing, marking, stitching and finishing.
The cloth remembers
The design is gently transferred to fabric, becoming a quiet map for the artisan.
Hands give it life
Every stitch is formed without haste—sometimes over hundreds of patient hours.
A new heirloom begins
The finished piece is washed, inspected and prepared to become part of your story.
A vocabulary in thread
Meet the stitches
Each stitch has its own rhythm, texture and purpose. Together, they turn plain cloth into something deeply human.
Shadow work
Bakhiya
Worked from the reverse so the thread blooms softly through the fabric.
Millet knot
Phanda
Tiny raised knots placed patiently to form petals, pollen and texture.
Entwined line
Pechni
A precise running stitch wrapped with thread to create graceful outlines.
Grass leaf
Ghaspatti
Delicate leaf-shaped stitches inspired by the gardens of old Lucknow.
Open lattice
Jaali
Threads are teased apart without cutting the cloth, creating airy windows.
Metal shimmer
Muqaish
Minute metallic accents catch the light like stars across the embroidery.
Our promise
“The hand leaves behind something the machine never can—a trace of the person who made it.”
We choose considered production, natural fabrics and direct artisan relationships. Every imperfection is evidence of touch; every variation makes your piece singular.
✦Artisan first◌Authentic handwork❧Slowly made
Wear a story still being written.
Discover pieces shaped by heritage, patience and the hands of Lucknow’s artisans.
Explore the collection