House of Chikankari: The brand has recently seen a boost in brand recognition thanks to the recent hype surrounding its appearance in the popular television programme The Shark Tank.
Chikankari is a traditional threadwork done by the locals of India. An ancient form of embroidery from Lucknow, the word translates to “embroidery” (thread or wire), one of Lucknow’s most well-known textile decoration techniques.
House of Chikankari is a brand promoting the famous chicken work. The aim of the House of Chikankari is to promote respect for Indian artisans’ talent, heritage, and craftsmanship.
Dream Of A Mother, Brain Of The Daughter
There is no better fan than a mother for her child, and if a mother becomes a partner in her child’s startup, there is no chance of failure. The House of Chikankari was the name this mother-daughter team gave to their long-living dream project.
The daughter had the inspiration and ideas to turn the mother’s love of chikankari into a reality. The team not only made the concept a reality but also rose to the top of the market.
Co-founder Poonam Rawal, a textile expert, has long created ethnic clothing for herself and her loved ones. Her wardrobe was overflowing with clothing that has been painstakingly hand-embroidered in Chikankari, and her daughter Aakriti Rawal has unavoidably inherited this obsession.
Aakriti Rawal is a creative director who has wanted to open her own business since she was 14 years old. After completing her marketing master’s degree in London, she moved back to India to launch her business. The head of production, Poonam Rawal, is passionate about her work and supports the welfare of her team as a whole.
How was it started
The mother-daughter duo frequently used to discuss the plight of the nation’s artisans during the unrest-filled lockdown of 2020. After days of discussion, they both came to the conclusion that they should use their contacts and skills to support the Indian artisans.
The journey began when they had a phone conversation with a Chikankari artist seeking employment during the lockdown. they were coming up with ideas for how to offer assistance. Aakriti was operating with a brand and researching a business concept at the same time. House of Chikankari began at that time, directly from their home’s basement.
To ensure that the skill and knowledge of Indian artisans, their heritage, and their craftsmanship are valued by all, the House of Chikankari was founded.
Aakriti Rawal began learning everything she could about the art of chikankari. She observed the artisan community and the handwork industry declining. She noticed that very few people perform Chikankari on a larger scale online.
She considered how presenting Chikankari in a more fashionable way might benefit both the company and the artisans who create the handicrafts. They visited Lucknow, investigated market vendors, examined designs, and from there, there was no turning back, according to Aakriti Rawal.
The founders of House of Chikankari have thus far collaborated with Chikankari weavers and hope to expand globally. The pair recently appeared on Shark Tank India season 2 where they pitched their business idea and displayed the artwork created by House of Chikankari.
The pair launched their company in October 2020 with a staff of 15, moved to a larger location in 2021, and increased their workforce. The company currently employs over 70 people, with Poonam handling operations and quality control and Aakriti concentrating on marketing, business development, and financial management. The entire team is in place, from the marketing director to the dispatcher. However, the pair faces unique difficulties.
Shark Tank Experience
At the Shark Tank programme, the pair showcased House Of Chikankari. Sharks were impressed by the start-vision up’s and the concept of elevating regional artisans and popularising Chikankari on a global scale. Together with their contributions, Peyush Bansal & Aman Gupta now own 3.75% of the company. The mother-daughter team’s website traffic and Instagram followers have both changed significantly after their visit on the show.
Their goal is to combine comfort and elegance. they all about plush materials, painstaking attention to detail, and classic elegance. Every piece tells a different story and is designed in easy-going styles with dainty details.
The best thing about working with mom as a partner, according to Aakriti, is that there are no grudges; five minutes later, she will come over and ask me about my lunch. We have disagreements and conflicts within the team, that much is obvious. But they resolve the issue at the root of the problem. Second, we complement one another and learn the craft from each other because we are experts in very distinct sets of skills.
Through their unquenchable passion for Chikankari, they hope to restore the artisans’ sense of pride in their exquisite craftsmanship and preserve it for future generations. They work tirelessly every day to achieve this and turn Indian heritage crafts into a treasured luxury that is accessible to all households.
House of Chikankari is a tribute to all mothers who put their needs second to fulfill their daughters’ aspirations and to all devoted daughters who constantly work to make their mothers smile.
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