A Rich Legacy of Elegance

Fashion in Lucknow finds its earliest champions in the royal courts of the Nawabs. Regal sherwanis, chikankari kurtas, and ornate dupattas weren’t just clothing—they were status symbols. Artisans would spend weeks embroidering a single piece for the city’s elite, and traditional motifs like paisleys and floral vines became signatures of Lucknow’s sartorial grace.

Even today, the much-loved Chikankari holds pride of place. Hand-embroidered with care and skill passed across generations, it is delicate, airy, and perfect for the North Indian climate. For years, it was reserved for special occasions, but times have changed. Chikankari now finds its way onto western cuts, jeans, sarees, and even smart-casual blazers.

From Royalty to Youthful Rebels

What’s truly fascinating about present-day Lucknow is how its youth have seized tradition and turned it upside down—in the best way possible. In 2025, college students are just as likely to show up in classic Anarkalis as they are in oversized tees with chikankari detailing. The streets of Gomti Nagar and Aliganj are ablaze with everything from neon sneakers and oversized sunglasses to elegant silk sarees paired with chunky belts.

Designers and fashion influencers in Lucknow see this fusion as a movement rather than a fad. The city’s best-known stylists will tell you that the demand for custom pieces—mixing heritage fabrics with global trends—has never been higher. For example, you might spot:

• A young professional layering a Maasai beaded necklace over a lucknowi chikankari shirt.

• Wedding guests swapping heavy lehengas for breezy palazzo suits decorated in royal zardozi.

• Street style icons tucking embroidered kurtas into denim miniskirts.