House of Chikankari, a New Delhi-based ethnic wear D2C brand, has raised ₹4 crore in a seed funding round. The round saw participation from prominent angel investors and micro-VCs, including Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Manoj Meena (Atomberg), Ankit Nagori (Curefoods), Hitesh Dhingra (The Man Company), Tudip Ventures, Alluvium Capital, and Aurinko Partners.
The funds raised will be used to expand its business operations, enhance marketing efforts, strengthen its team and scale its business to be an ₹100 crore revenue brand.
Aakriti Rawal, Co-Founder and CEO, said, “The market for Indian crafts is highly unorganized, with most players limited to small regional stores or online platforms that often lack authenticity in sourcing and origin. At House of Chikankari, we address these challenges by directly collaborating with artisan clusters to ensure quality and authenticity. Our contemporary designs make traditional crafts resonate with younger audiences.”
“Growing up, Chikankari was something my mother or grandmother cherished, but younger generations like mine weren’t familiar with its rich history. There was a common belief that authentic Chikankari could only be found if you or someone you knew traveled to Lucknow. We’re changing that narrative by making Chikankari accessible, authentic, and modern for everyone,” she added.
Poonam Rawal, Co-Founder, said, “While we started with Chikankari, our journey has expanded to include other crafts. We’ve realized our mission can extend beyond a single art form. Today, we collaborate with artisans working on Kashmiri embroidery, Ikat, and hand-block printing, providing both employment and demand for these crafts. When we began, taking Chikankari online was challenging due to its fragmented supply chain. However, through extensive on-ground work, we overcame these obstacles. This success has strengthened our confidence to bring other crafts to the forefront, just as we did with Chikankari.”
Founded in 2020 by Aakriti Rawal and Poonam Rawal, House of Chikankari specialises in authentic Chikankari embroidery from Lucknow, the brand connects traditional craftsmanship with modern designs.
Featured on Shark Tank India Season 2, this ethnic wear brand from Delhi is backed by Aman Gupta (boAt Lifestyle) and Peyush Bansal (Lenskart).
Since 2020, House of Chikankari has collaborated with 10,000+ artisans, preserving heritage while promoting sustainable livelihoods. The brand plans to diversify its offerings, with 30% of 2025 revenues expected from crafts like Kashmiri embroidery, Ikat, and hand-block printing.
Currently, 85% of its revenue comes from its D2C website, fulfilling 15,000+ orders monthly. With a presence on platforms like Nykaa and Myntra, the brand eyes global markets, targeting platforms like Noon and Styli.
