Care · 4 min read · 22 January 2026
How to wash chikankari without ruining it
Six things that keep undyed thread white, and one that will yellow it in a single wash.
Care · 4 min read · 22 January 2026
Six things that keep undyed thread white, and one that will yellow it in a single wash.
The thread on a white-on-white piece is undyed cotton. It has no protection from the two things that age it fastest: optical brighteners and direct sun.
Most Indian detergents contain optical brighteners — the additive that makes whites look bluer under daylight. On dyed fabric it is harmless. On undyed embroidery thread it deposits unevenly and, over a few washes, turns the motif faintly grey against the cloth. Use a mild liquid detergent meant for delicates, or plain soap nut.
Wash cold, by hand, on its own. Do not wring — the twist pulls the knots out of shape and a phanda that has been wrung never quite recovers. Press the water out between two towels instead.
Dry flat in shade, inside out. An hour of direct Indian sun will do more to the white than a year of wearing it.
Iron on the reverse with steam, and go around the embroidered panels rather than over them. A hot plate flattens murri knots permanently.
Store folded in muslin, never in plastic and never on a hanger. Plastic traps moisture and yellows cotton; a hanger stretches the shoulder over months. Every piece we send arrives in a muslin pouch for exactly this reason.
Written by Sughari Atelier. Questions are welcome.
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