DELICATE DREAMS

Tracing the origins of chikankari embroidery with Fabindia

- Vinita Makhija

One could say the Indian version of a closet must-haves list should include a sari, a dupatta, and a (Fabindia) kurta. It wouldn’t be a far stretch to claim that almost every urban Indian owns some version of the cult brand’s ready-to-wear.

To know the story of Fabindia you have to travel to Lucknow, home of chikankari embroidery—one of the brand’s two key offerings, the other being indigo-dyed fabrics. Chikankari was selected because of its additional role as a medium to uplift Indian women via crafts.

Founded in 1960 by American John Bissell, Fabindia began as a corporation that supplied made-in-India fabrics and handicrafts to the world. Today, the brand has grown into a massive conglomerate, with over 300 stores across the globe selling almost every sort of textile from South Asia as clothes or home décor.