Sigma Rock & designer Umair Zafar collaborate to promote Lucknowi Chikankari & Embroidery

Lucknow, 2^nd March 2014.  We all celebrate our annual events and functions with a lot of aplomb, but when we do it with for a social cause; it makes a great difference to those benefited. Sigma Rock Infra Ventures Pvt Ltd - a Lucknow-based real estate company believes and stands for integrity and ethics and this was amply evident in their effort to support and promote the small craftsmen and karigars of Lucknow. Sigma Rock presented celebrity designer and stylist Umair Zafar's Chikankari Summer Collection 2014 on 1^st March at a glittering ceremony at the M B Club in Lucknow to promote the craft and enhance and encourage the craftsmen and karigar community which has suffered greatly due to neglect and lack of promotion. Bollywood diva Rituparna Sen walked the ramp  for Umair Zafar and also distributed prizes and awards to achievers of Sigma Rock.

Lucknow based designer Arshi Jamal also show-cased his ethnic collection as the guest list included young and energetic minister Naved Siddiqui,  Major General Suresh Gupta, Dr Vikram Ahuja, Lens man Subodh Bajpai, Shashank Agarwal, former Indian women’s cricket team captain Nighat Khan, Asst Director - Ministry of Communication Ravi Pratap Singh,  Urban Fashion Franchise Head Shoaib Zafar and many others.

Gorgeous Rituparna Sen Gupta, the show stopper for Umair Zafar enthralled the audience with her beautiful moves. Ace choreographer Shie Lobo made the night more appealing with his synchronized choreography. Rupa Khurana and Rajesh Tandon anchored the gala event.

According to, Asrar Ahmad Khan, Director Sigma Rock, “We being housing providers relate directly to fashion and lifestyle. This event hence is one more form to connect people with fashion and lifestyle.  This is yet another feather in our cap. The aim for Fit and Fashion 2014 is to create awareness about fitness and fashion among Lucknowites.”

Designer Umair Zafar who hails from Lucknow and is known for his patronage for the culture and crafts of the city of Nawabs speaking to news agency Newz66.com in Lucknow said, "This show is for the craftsmen of Lucknow who have long been neglected by other designers and big brands alike. I thank Sigma Rock for supporting us in this noble cause. We are showcasing 35 national and international models to display the designs. I have used the blend of Lucknow’s ancient art -  the chikan with popular modern fabrics. It’s now possible to carry chikan in all seasons. It is not vintage any more. These fusions will give chikan a high fashion and party angle given the fact that over 20 varieties of fabric have been used.”

The magic moments were captured by the lenses of Subodh Bajpayee.  Patrons supporting the event included Urban Fashion, Diet Mantra, Magic Holidays, Golden Blossom Imperial Resorts, Signature Premium, Flashcabs, PR advisory Kaivalya Communication, Meem Productions and many more.

Bollywood stars to shine at Umair Zafar's Summer Collection 2014 launch at Lucknow

At least 4-5 Bollywood actors including Rituparna Sengupta and Purab Kohli will add to the glam component and help designer Umair Zafar promote the art of Lucknowi Chikankari  to a discerning and elite audience at the M B Club at Lucknow on 1st March 2014.

Speaking to content agency Newz66.com, Umair Zafar says, "Almost everyone even remotely connected with garments, apparel and fashion has heard of chikankari. But how many people know that there are over 40 types of hand stitches involved in chikankari embroidery work. How many people know that one embroider working almost 18 hours a day takes over a week and more to complete a single garment. We want to showcase and present the efforts involved in preparing such a collection."

These outfits - which have provided employment to almost 250 embroiders in Mumbai and Lucknow, will be on display at a glitzy fashion event in Lucknow - the home of chikankari at the launch of Umair Zafar’s Summer Collection 2014. And thanks to Umair Zafar the dying art of traditional Chikankari will be showcased to an international audience with at least 3 international TV channels covering the fashion event live.

Chikankari is delicate and artfully done hand embroidery on a variety of textile fabrics like muslin, silk, chiffon, organza, net etc. White thread is embroidered on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton garments. These days chikan embroidery is also done with coloured and silk threads in different colours to sync with recent fashion trends and keep chikankari trendy with changing fashion and fabric. 

Lucknow is the heart of the Chikankari industry today and the variety is known as Lucknawi chikan. The stich-work includes the following types of stitches - Tepchi, Bakhiya, Hool, Zanzeera, Rahet, Banarsi, Khatau,   Phanda, Murri, Jali, Turpai, Darzdari, Pechani, Bijli, Ghaspatti, Makra, Kauri, Hathkadi,   Banjkali, Sazi, Karan, Kapkapi, Madrazi, Bulbul-chasm, Taj Mahal, Janjeera, Kangan, Dhania-patti, Rozan, Meharki, Chanapatti, Baalda, Jora, Keel kangan, Bulbul, Sidhaul, Ghas-ki-patti and a few others.

Mumbai-based fashion designer Umair Zafar who originally hails from Lucknow and has been promoting Lucknowi Art and Craft will bring Lucknow Chikankari to an international audience in association with Sigma Rock Infra the patrons of Project Chikankari.

Designer Umair Zafar has done an in-depth research and study on Lucknowi Chikankari and its various forms of stitches. In order to promote the art, he will be showcasing a premium range of chikankari work with an amalgamation of different fabrics, mix and match with various other embroideries and fabrics like muslin, brocade and silk along with Swarovski crystals. The collection will be in different colors, ranges and sizes to suit all body types, which is rarely found in traditional chikankari work.

Photos: Newz66.com

Umair Zafar's Summer Collection 2014 includes over 40 types of Chikankari embroidery

Almost everyone even remotely connected with garments, apparel and fashion has heard of chikankari. But how many people know that there are over 40 types of hand stitches involved in chikankari embroidery work. 

How many people know that one embroider working almost 18 hours a day takes over a week and more to complete a single garment. These outfits - which have provided employment to almost 250 embroiders in Mumbai and Lucknow, will be on display at a glitzy fashion event in Lucknow - the home of chikankari on 1^st March at the launch of Umair Zafar’s Summer Collection 2014. And thanks to Umair Zafar the dying art of traditional Chikankari will be showcased to an international audience with at least 3 international TV channels covering the fashion event live.

Chikankari is delicate and artfully done hand embroidery on a variety of textile fabrics like muslin, silk, chiffon, organza, net etc. White thread is embroidered on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton garments. These days chikan embroidery is also done with coloured and silk threads in different colours to sync with recent fashion trends and keep chikankari trendy with changing fashion and fabric. 

Lucknow is the heart of the Chikankari industry today and the variety is known as Lucknawi chikan. The stich-work includes the following types of stitches - Tepchi, Bakhiya, Hool, Zanzeera, Rahet, Banarsi, Khatau,   Phanda, Murri, Jali, Turpai, Darzdari, Pechani, Bijli, Ghaspatti, Makra, Kauri, Hathkadi,   Banjkali, Sazi, Karan, Kapkapi, Madrazi, Bulbul-chasm, Taj Mahal, Janjeera, Kangan, Dhania-patti, Rozan, Meharki, Chanapatti, Baalda, Jora, Keel kangan, Bulbul, Sidhaul, Ghas-ki-patti and a few others.

Mumbai-based fashion designer Umair Zafar who originally hails from Lucknow and has been promoting Lucknowi Art and Craft will bring Lucknow Chikankari to an international audience in association with Sigma Rock Infra the patrons of Project Chikankari.

Designer Umair Zafar has done an in-depth research and study on Lucknowi Chikankari and its various forms of stitches. In order to promote the art, he will be showcasing a premium range of chikankari work with an amalgamation of different fabrics, mix and match with various other embroideries and fabrics like muslin, brocade and silk along with Swarovski crystals. The collection will be in different colors, ranges and sizes to suit all body types, which is rarely found in traditional chikankari work.