I had always loved the quiet magic of chikankari embroidery. As I am bourn & bought up in Lucknow & still living in Lucknow. As a little girl I was watching delicate threads bloom into flowers and vines under skilled, wrinkled hands in tiny narrow places nearby my home which is located in old Lucknow. Years passed, and while the world speed up—chasing fast fashion, scrolling endlessly—I still found myself drawn to the slow art of hand embroidery.
I had a dream to start my own brand of Lucknow Chikankari. But wanting to start my own chikankari brand wasn’t just about passion. It was about fear, and not being "good enough," of people not caring about handwork in a machine-made world. For years, I kept my dream tucked away like an unfinished piece in the bottom drawer.
One day, after a long walk to clear my mind, I sat at my desk and whispered to myself, "Start small, but start." March 2022 is the month I had started listening to my inner soul & decided the name of My Brand & called it "Savi Chikankari Art"—Savi is my cute little daughter’s name so that’s how I saw chikankari embroidery: soft, careful, full of life as my daughter. With shaking hands, I had shared couple of Chikankari clothes online—not for validation, but to mark the beginning. I was surprised; the response was warm. A few friends asked if I could make one for them. A stranger messaged, "Where can I buy this?"
My confidence was on next level. For brand marketing through direct connection with the customers, I decided to participate in the exhibitions. Here God had decided a big plan for me. I participated in India's biggest international exhibition "India International Trade Show (IITF) Bharat Mandapam,New Delhi" in 2023. That became a big exposure not only for my brand but for me also. Still, I love to be there.
My next big target was to have my brand's website. Running a brand's website is not easy all. You have to be malty tasker. I faced & still facing days of doubt, and sore fingers from stitching for hours. But I believe that as earlier this time also my pieces found homes through my website soon. My old customers sent me photos wearing my designs at weddings, festivals, and quiet dinners.
My each & every piece is unique, stitched with time and love.
And I realized: I am not just selling clothes. I am telling stories—one thread at a time.
Founder & CEO
Pallavi Verma