Inspired by the work of Indian artisans, Qirat Chikankari offers a new way to experience the heritage of India. We’re two best friends who have always had a love for the ethereal sense of being that came with wearing Indian clothes, and found ourselves eagerly discussing our outfits before family celebrations.

During the COVID-19 downtime, watching the world come to a halt made us realize how privileged we were compared to the working class. Any small step we could take toward the needy would be impactful, to say the least.

And of course, we discovered Chikankari at the time. For centuries, the Chikans of India have been weaving embroidered fabrics for everyday wear. We set out to make these garments available in a new way—to people who care about how their clothes feel on their bodies and on the world. And, Qirat Chikankari was born.

What started as a passion project during COVID-19 led to something larger than us, than our society. We wanted to keep our collection authentic and basic so that everyone could incorporate the beauty of simplicity into their everyday lives. Further analysis made us realize the troubles that our Indian hast-karigars faced during the pandemic, making us more confident about commencing the label further.

Our intention was to put India on the world map by creating awareness and promoting Indian handicrafts & handcrafted embroidery. We recognized that what made Indian culture so unique is its rich heritage, and one way to pay tribute to this was to revive traditional Indian embroidery on our clothes.

Ensuring the progress of every hand behind the label was our mission, right on par with PM Modi’s VOCAL FOR LOCAL campaign. We hoped to be available to everyone with the same mindset, working towards a positive environment with products that one could sustain for its longevity.