Lucknow based business, House of Chikankari, has successfully raised Rs 4 crore in its seed funding round, with contributions from notable angel investors and micro venture capital funds. The newly acquired funds will be channeled into expanding business operations, enhancing marketing efforts, and team expansion.

Aakriti Rawal, CEO and co-founder of House of Chikankari, highlighted the disorganized nature of the Indian craft market, stating, “Most players are confined to small regional outlets or online platforms where authenticity is often questionable. House of Chikankari solves this by directly working with artisan clusters to guarantee quality and authenticity, while also making traditional crafts appealing to the younger demographic through modern designs.”

With ambitions to grow into a Rs 100 crore brand, the investment round saw participation from investors like Peyush Bandal of Lenskart, Manoj Meena of Atomberg, Ankit Nagori from Curefoods, and Hitesh Dhingra of The Man Company, among others.

Co-founder Poonam Rawal elaborated on the brand’s evolution, “Although we started with Chikankari, our vision has broadened to include various Indian crafts like Kashmiri embroidery, Ikat, and hand-block printing. This not only provides employment but also sustains the demand for these traditional arts. Initially, bringing Chikankari online was fraught with supply chain issues, but our groundwork has paid off, giving us the confidence to promote other crafts similarly.”

House of Chikankari, known for its offerings from Lucknow, combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. The brand is set to diversify its product line, with a goal for 30% of its revenue in 2025 to come from non-Chikankari products. Plans for a Series A funding round are also in the pipeline to support further growth.

Rawal added personal insights on Chikankari’s cultural significance, “It was a craft cherished by older generations, but not well-known among the young. There was a myth that true Chikankari could only be sourced from Lucknow directly. We are debunking that by making Chikankari accessible, authentic, and appealing to a new audience.”