Screen Printing Chikankari Motifs on Sofa backs and Cushion covers

Abstract

Textile designing has been an ancient art and perhaps the most ancient craft of India. It is not a new concept and has existed even in the prehistoric cave paintings as evidenced by designs appearing on costumes, tapestries and carpets etc. Gradually designing has become more intellectual. The design on the fabric is achieved by a great variety of techniques. Chikan embroidery is one of those techniques and supposed to come from Persia in the 17^thcentury with Noor-Johan, the queen of Emperor Jahangir. The word chikan comes from the Persian word chikaan meaning drapery. Chikankari embroidery is the famous embroidery of Lucknow. Chikankari embroidery was mostly applied on apparels viz: suit and sarees. In the present study an attempt was made to develop screens for Chikankari embroidery motif for printing of Sofa backs and Cushion covers. Total ten designs were developed, five each for Sofa backs and Cushion cover. All the developed designs were subjected to visual evaluation for selection of two best designs for each Sofa back and Cushion cover. These designs were printed and highly appreciated by the judges for aesthetic appeal, design uniqueness, print quality , colour combination and overall appearance (Vedika.,2014).