Cut Work Lehenga
Cut Work Lehenga
Look at a cut work lehenga from far away. You will see a flower. a leaf, a small bird.
Now come close to the fact that flower is not printed. It is not woven. Someone cut it out of a gold ribbon with a scissor and sewed it on the cloth by hand. One flower takes a few minutes. One lehenga has hundreds of them.
This is the work our karigars do in Sikar. We have been doing it since 1978.
What is Cut Work
Cutwork means that shapes are cut out and attached to the fabric.
In Rajasthan, this work is done using gotta. Gota is a thin ribbon made of gold or silver. The artisan cuts it into small shapes such as leaves, petals, flowers and paisleys then he places each piece on the fabric and stitches down its edges.
Plain gotta work is just a straight line of ribbon on the border. Cut work is much more. Every shape is cut and placed on its own that is why it takes so much longer and looks so much richer.
When light falls on it the shapes shine at different angles. A print can never do that.
Cut Work and Cutdana are Not the Same
Many people mix these two up. You will see both words on our site so here is the simple difference.
Cutdana is small cut beads. Dana means bead. These beads have tiny cut faces like a small stone so they twinkle when you move.
Many of our lehengas feature both these elements. Gota work accentuates the designs while cut - dana beads add a touch of sparkle. Together they create a rich magnificent look without feeling overly heavy.
How It is Made
Step one the design is drawn on the cloth in light chalk.
Step two the karigar cuts the gota ribbon into shapes with a small scissor. No machines, just hands and eyes.
Step three each shape is placed on the drawn line and sewn down with tiny stitches all along the edge.
In the fourth stage pearls and stones are added one by one.
Step five the cloth is checked, the chalk is cleaned off and the loose threads are cut.
Work involving light borders might take a day or two. A full skirt and dupatta could take weeks that is why we cannot keep hundreds of pieces ready in advance.
How to Check if the Work is Real
This is useful before you buy from anyone.
Try touching it with your finger in genuine cutwork, there are stitches around the shape you can feel small, raised areas. Glued - on work has a smooth flat surface.
Turn it over. Hand work shows thread lines on the back side. Glued or printed work shows nothing.
Look closely at the shapes. Hand cut leaves are not all the same. One is slightly bigger, one is turned a little. That is not a fault. That is the sign of hand work.
Pull very gently at one shape. Sewn work will not move. Glued work will lift.
Fabrics You Will Find Here
Cutwork is done on various types of fabrics. Each fabric has a distinct feel.
Chinon is soft and light. It falls nicely and is easy to wear for long hours.
Georgette is light too, but a little thicker. Good for most functions.
Upada silk has a soft shine. It sits between light and heavy.
Gaji silk is the thickest and shiniest. It holds a big round shape. Best for weddings.
If your function is during the day or in summer, take chinon or georgette. If it is an evening wedding, take gaji silk or upada silk.
Colours
You will find red, rani, pink, green, yellow, blue, white and many more.
Gold Gota work looks stunning on deep colors like red, fuchsia and green. In contrast the same work appears very subtle and delicate on white, cream and light colors (pastel shades).
If you are the bride, opting for red or fuchsia would be best. If you are attending a daytime function as a guest, a pastel shade with gold cut-work would look very fresh and appealing.
When to Wear It
Wedding and reception: Heavy cut work with cutdana looks best under lights.
Sangeet: Pick a light fabric. You have to dance.
Haldi and mehendi: Yellow or green chinon with light cut work.
Teej, Gangaur and Diwali: This is the everyday festive favourite in Rajasthan.
Family pujas and small functions: A simple cut work border is enough.
What You Get
Every piece here is a complete set-lehenga, choli and dupatta.
The lehenga is approximately 42 inches long. Its width is 42 to 44 inches.
Need a longer one or a bigger size? Message us on WhatsApp before you order. We can change the size of most pieces.
Price
Price depends on two things only. The fabric, and how much hand work is on it.
A chinon piece with a cut work border costs less. A gaji silk set with cut work on the full skirt, the border and the whole dupatta takes weeks of work. So it costs more.
If a shop offers you heavy cut work for a very low price, the work is glued or printed. Hand work cannot be that cheap. Someone has to sit and sew it.
In Stock and Pre Order
In stock pieces are ready with us. They ship in 2 to 3 working days.
Pre-order means that we craft the item only after you place your order. Light work takes 5 to 7 working days, while intricate or heavy work may take 15 to 30 working days. The estimated time is listed on each product page so please check it before placing your order.
Has a wedding date been set? Place your order in advance and let us know the date via WhatsApp. We will handle the planning for you.
How to Take Care of It
Dry clean only. Please do not wash it at home. Water may loosen the stitching and cause the gold color to fade.
Do not twist it to remove water.
Keep it folded in a cotton cloth bag. Do not use a plastic cover. Gold work needs air or it turns dull.
Turn the lehenga inside out while ironing and place a thin layer of cotton cloth over it. Never place the hot iron directly on the gotta work or beads.
If a pearl comes loose, do not pull the thread. Any local tailor can fix it in a minute.
Why Buy From Us
We make our own clothes. We are not a shop that buys and sells.
We are KCPC Bandhani from Sikar, Rajasthan. Our karigars sit in our own unit and do this work by hand.
Because we make it, we can tell you exactly what is on a piece. Nobody has to guess.
More than 8,300 customers have given us reviews and our rating is 4.79. We send orders all over India and outside India too.
Not sure about a colour or a size? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 9166259900. Our team will check the piece for you before you pay.
FAQs
What does 'cut-work' mean in a lehenga?
This means that gold or silver ribbons are cut into small pieces and sewn onto the fabric by hand. It is neither printed nor woven.
Is cut work done by hand or machine?
Ours is done by hand in Sikar. The cutting, the placing and the stitching are all done by our karigars.
What is the difference between cutwork and cutdana?
Cutwork involves ribbon-shaped cutouts, while 'cutdana' refers to small cut beads. Many pieces feature both of these elements.
Does it come with a blouse and a dupatta?
Yes. Everything here comes in sets of three.