The first design of our signature Falaknuma motif are these sarees. Showcased in some premium shows like Red Earth Saree Festival, Dastkar, Sanatkada, Ficci Flo & SAARC event, this saree was the game changer in bringing back stories & concepts in Chikankari Craft as an ode to Lucknow. After the debut of this concept, designers in Chikankari started exploring motifs beyond floral art. The saree was first videographed on Isha Priya Singh (@desidrapes on IG) in June, 2018 at the gorgeous Lebua, Lucknow. Isha ji participated in the video purely as a goodwill gesture.

THE SUSTAINABILITY QUOTIENT (TSQ):

1. HANDLOOM CHANDERI WITH DIFFERENT COMPOSITION IN THE LOOM – this composition & style of weaving has made this Chanderi weave gossamer in feel & absolutely fantastic, unlike the Chanderi that is generally woven. It is our specialized weave. Let us call this FALAKNUMA CHANDERI by MEIRAAS.
2. UNIQUE WEAVE COMMISSIONED BY MEIRAAS – explained above
3. UNIQUE MEIRAAS BLOCKS – Art created from scratch. Motif Blocks drawn & chiseled by hand in ancient style. This gives more challenging & creative work to Block Artisans, who were being eliminated by many designers in favour of digital tracing.
4. RESHAM CHIKANKARI (HAND EMBROIDERY PRACTISED SINCE ANCIENT AGE)

Khayal (moodboard):

Taking inspiration from celebrated Indian author, Munshi Premchand’s story, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, we created Bisaat. Celebrated Indian Filmmaker, Satyajit Ray, also made a classic adaptation of this story in 1977.

Bisaat or the chessboard was the biggest conversation starter in Awadh; this past legacy has been recreated on this showstopper saree.

POSHAAK (about the dress):

For this saree our team created the following, as this one was the toughest to make:

1.) The Chess pieces have been researched painstakingly & created true to Nawabi Era, instead of popular Queen’s chess. We have created Badshaah (King), Wazir (Minister – no Queen then), Ghoda (horse), Haathi (elephant).

2.) Once the idea was conceptualised, our team created original artwork, that was later drawn by hand on a block of wood by Block Making Artisans of Lucknow.

3.) The Artwork was then painstakingly engraved using 7 different kind of chisels, till the block pattern emerged. This was polished with peanut oil & dried in sun, ready to be used.

4.) This block was then brushed with Blue Dye & hand blocked on the fabric as per the design sensibility.

5.) The printed fabric was taken to our embroiderers who created this final masterpiece. Out of these, the Chessboard in the Paisley was the toughest to make, as the Chessboard is actually square, but the artisan had to learn how to skill-fully create black & white chessboard in an abstract Paisley shape.

This 3 D art saree is feather light & has a mustard orange base with gold pure tested zari detailing on either side of the width of the saree.

The embroidery is till the end of the saree.

Styling Tip: This is a saree you treasure & hand down generation to generation. Wear it for day wedding functions, small intimate gatherings, in office, or when you want to dress up & listen to old vintage songs!! The possibilities are endless with a classic.