Schiffli is a type of lace that is embroidered using a Schiffli machine; it’s similar to a machine version of traditional Indian hand embroideries that involve eyelets or openwork, such as Lucknowi chikan or chikankari, or eyelet lace.
We develop our schiffli designs in New Delhi, and my versions of this technique often involve pushing the boundaries of the usual floral or lace-like designs into a symbolic geometric repeating pattern with negative and positive space, and eyelet openings to reveal a contrast color or swaths of skin beneath.
