Schiffli embroidery is not simply an embellishment. It is one of the most technically demanding and commercially significant fabric production processes in the global textile industry, and the manufacturer you choose determines the quality, consistency, and compliance standing of everything your brand puts into the market.
At Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd., we operate six Swiss-made Lasser AG MVD 75 Schiffli embroidery machines, each running at 21.5 metres of working width, producing precision embroidery fabric for garment exporters and fashion brands across India and internationally. If you are evaluating Schiffli embroidery suppliers for your next collection or sourcing cycle, this page gives you a complete picture of what we produce, how we produce it, and why our buyers keep coming back.
What Is Schiffli Embroidery?
Schiffli embroidery is a machine-based embroidery technique that uses a large, horizontally oriented multi-needle machine to embroider fabric at industrial scale. The name comes from the German word for "little boat," a reference to the shuttle mechanism that carries the thread beneath the fabric to create the stitch.
Unlike hand embroidery or multi-head embroidery machines, a Schiffli machine embroiders across the full fabric width simultaneously. This means thousands of needles working in perfect coordination to produce all-over patterns, border designs, chemical lace, and motif-based embroidery at volumes and repeat precision that no other technology can match.
The Schiffli process is the foundation of the global lace and embroidery fabric industry. It originated in Switzerland in the 19th century and has since evolved into a highly specialised, machinery-intensive manufacturing discipline. The best Schiffli machines in the world today are still Swiss-made, and the Lasser AG platform that we operate at Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd. represents the current standard in the industry.
Types of Schiffli Embroidery We Manufacture
Greige on Greige Embroidery
The most fundamental Schiffli format. The embroidery is worked on an unfinished, undyed base fabric using unfinished thread. The combined fabric and embroidery then move together through dyeing and finishing processes, producing a naturally unified colour result. This is a popular format for ethnic wear and fashion fabrics where buyers want the flexibility to dye to their seasonal colour requirements.
Dyed on Dyed Embroidery
Here, both the base fabric and the embroidery thread are pre-dyed before the embroidery process. This allows for precise colour-on-colour or contrast colour embroidery effects. I have noticed that brands often choose dyed-on-dyed Schiffli when they want a controlled, repeatable colourway across a full production run without post-process dyeing variation.
Chemical Lace Border and All-Over
Chemical lace is one of Schiffli's most distinctive outputs. The embroidery is worked on a water-soluble base fabric. Once embroidered, the base is chemically dissolved, leaving only the thread structure as a freestanding lace fabric. Border chemical lace is used at garment edges, hemlines, and necklines. All-over chemical lace creates fully constructed lace fabric used as a garment cloth in its own right.
3D Embroidery
Three-dimensional Schiffli embroidery uses foam or padding beneath the surface stitching to create a raised, sculptural effect. This format is popular in premium casualwear, accessories, and sportswear branding where a tactile, dimensional quality sets the product apart.
Applique Embroidery
Schiffli machines can execute applique work at scale, layering a secondary fabric onto the base and stitching it down in a single machine run. The result is a consistent, high-volume applique embroidery fabric that delivers a premium layered aesthetic without hand-finishing labour.
Neck Patches and Panel Embroidery
For garment exporters who need embroidery at specific placement zones rather than across the full fabric, we produce neck patches and panel embroidery in Schiffli format. These are produced as separate pieces and applied to garments at the manufacturing stage.
Key Features and Benefits of Schiffli Embroidery Fabric
Full-Width Production Consistency: Our Lasser AG machines work across 21.5 metres simultaneously. Every needle position, every stitch, every repeat across the full width is controlled by the same digital program. The result is a uniformity of embroidery that you simply cannot achieve with frame-based or multi-head alternatives.
Design Complexity at Volume: Schiffli is uniquely capable of producing intricate, high-density designs at large-scale production volumes. Fine floral tracery, geometric latticework, abstract all-over patterns, and detailed border compositions are all within scope at full production speed.
Fabric Base Flexibility: Schiffli embroidery works across a wide range of base fabrics. Cotton, organic cotton, viscose, polyester, organza, net, linen, and blended fabrics can all serve as base substrates, giving buyers extensive flexibility in hand feel, drape, and end-use suitability.
Thread Variety: We work with 100% cotton, viscose rayon, polyester, metallic, space-dyed, and multi-colour thread options. Our R&D facility works specifically with dyed organic cotton, viscose, and multi-colour yarns that produce a silk-like surface shine.
Integrated Processing: Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd. operates within a group that includes dyeing, knitting, and printing capabilities. This means greige embroidery fabrics can move directly into dyeing and finishing within the same supply chain, reducing coordination risk and colour variance.
Applications Across Garment and Textile Categories
Schiffli embroidery fabric is produced for and used across a remarkably broad range of end uses. Here is how different buyer segments apply our output:
Ethnic and Occasion Wear: All-over Schiffli embroidery on cotton and viscose base fabrics for kurtas, kaftans, dupattas, lehengas, and sarees. Border Schiffli for hemline and neckline detailing. This is our largest volume application category.
Contemporary and Western Fashion: Geometric and abstract all-over Schiffli on organza and net bases for blouses, co-ord sets, and overlay garments. Chemical lace panels for resort and bridal fashion.
Bridal and Luxury Wear: Fine chemical lace, delicate floral all-over Schiffli, and applique embroidery for premium bridal garments and couture-level separates.
Kidswear: Bold, graphic Schiffli embroidery on cotton base fabrics for children's tops, dresses, and festive wear.
Home Textiles: Schiffli embroidered table linens, cushion covers, bed runners, and decorative throws. Many of our garment exporter buyers also source from us for home textile product lines.
Accessories: Embroidered fabric for bags, scarves, footwear uppers, and decorative accessories.
In my experience working with garment exporters targeting European and American buyers, Schiffli embroidery fabric sourced from a certified, audited facility travels through import compliance checks significantly more smoothly than fabric from non-certified suppliers.
The Schiffli Embroidery Manufacturing Process at Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd.
Understanding the production process helps you plan your sourcing calendar and set accurate expectations with your own buyers.
Stage 1: Design Development and Digitisation You share your design brief, reference fabric, or artwork. Our in-house design team converts your input into a Schiffli-compatible digital punch file. When we develop embroidery samples, we go through typically two to three design review cycles before the file is production-ready. This is the most important investment in the process; a well-developed punch file is the foundation of consistent bulk production.
Stage 2: Fabric and Thread Preparation Base fabric is inspected for weight, weave consistency, and dimensional stability. Thread is colour-matched against your Pantone reference or our in-house shade library. For greige-on-greige production, both fabric and thread are sourced in their unfinished state for post-embroidery dyeing.
Stage 3: Machine Setup and Production Fabric is loaded onto the Lasser AG machine across the full 21.5-metre width. The digitised design program is loaded and the machine begins embroidering. The horizontal shuttle mechanism works the underside thread simultaneously with the needle thread on the surface, creating the characteristic Schiffli stitch structure.
Production speed and needle count are calibrated to the specific design. High-density designs run at lower speed for accuracy. Lighter, more open designs run faster without quality compromise.
Stage 4: Post-Embroidery Finishing Shearing removes surface thread irregularities. Mending corrects any needle break or thread skip issues identified during production. For chemical lace production, the dissolution of the water-soluble base fabric is managed as a controlled wet finishing step.
Stage 5: Dyeing and Printing (Where Applicable) Greige-on-greige embroidery fabric moves into our dyeing facility for batch dyeing to your colour specification. This integrated processing capability is a meaningful operational advantage over suppliers who outsource dyeing to third parties.
Stage 6: Quality Inspection and Packing Every metre of finished Schiffli fabric is inspected for stitch consistency, colorfastness, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality. Our facility is fully Inditex-audited across social, health and safety, and metal detection parameters.
Packing is done to your specification. Roll packing, folded packing with poly-bag protection, and cut-length packing are all available. Export documentation is handled in-house.
Why Choose Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd. for Schiffli Embroidery
There are several Schiffli manufacturers in India. The following points explain why garment exporters and global fashion brands choose to work with us specifically:
Swiss-Made Machinery, Not Imitation: The Lasser AG MVD 75 is the recognised benchmark machine for Schiffli embroidery globally. Operating six of these at 21.5 metres each gives us a production width and consistency advantage that most competitors in India cannot replicate with older or lower-specification machinery.
GOTS and GRS Certified Production: According to Textile Exchange, demand for certified sustainable textiles continues to grow among global fashion brands. Our active GOTS certification covers organic cotton Schiffli embroidery production. Our GRS certification covers recycled fibre inputs. Both certifications are maintained with regular audits and full chain-of-custody documentation.
Inditex Compliance: We have cleared social audits, health and safety audits, and metal detection audits under the Inditex vendor compliance framework. This is one of the most rigorous compliance requirements in global fashion retail, and clearing it signals a level of facility maturity that protects your own supply chain reputation.
Vertically Integrated Group: Our group of companies covers dyeing, knitting, printing, and embroidery under coordinated management. This is genuinely useful for buyers who need multi-process support rather than multiple separate vendors.
Confidential Design Handling: All custom designs are treated as exclusive to the buyer. We do not replicate, share, or repurpose client design files. In my experience working with garment exporters, this commitment is often the deciding factor when buyers are choosing between suppliers for a new collection.
Delhi NCR Accessibility: Our Faridabad facility is easily accessible from Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida. This matters for buyers who want to visit, inspect fabric in person, or do in-house quality checks before shipment approval.
Customization Options
Every Schiffli embroidery order at Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd. is treated as a bespoke production project. Here is what you can define:
Design: Completely bespoke from your brief. Floral, geometric, abstract, traditional, contemporary, or brand-specific motifs. All-over, border, placement, or panel formats.
Base Fabric: Cotton, organic cotton, viscose, polyester, organza, net, linen, or custom blends. We can advise on the best base for your end-use requirement.
Thread Type and Colour: Matched to Pantone, your supplied swatch, or our in-house colour library. Thread options include cotton, viscose rayon, polyester, metallic, and space-dyed varieties.
Embroidery Format: Greige on greige, dyed on dyed, chemical lace, 3D foam, applique, or combined technique approaches.
Fabric Width and Repeat Size: Adjusted to your cutting layout and garment construction needs.
Finishing: Sheared, mended, pressed, and packed to your standard. Dyeing and printing coordination available within our group.
Packaging: Bulk roll, cut length, or patch format with poly-bag and label to your specification.
Sustainability and Certifications
The global fashion industry's move toward supply chain transparency has made sustainability certifications a practical necessity rather than a brand preference. Our certifications ensure that sourcing Schiffli embroidery from us is straightforward from a compliance documentation perspective.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): Covers our organic cotton Schiffli embroidery production from fibre through to finished fabric. Full chain of custody documentation available.
GRS (Global Recycled Standard): Applicable to production runs incorporating recycled polyester or other recycled fibre inputs. Supports buyers with recycled content targets in their product specifications.
Inditex Compliance: Social, health and safety, and metal detection audits passed and maintained. One of the most comprehensive vendor compliance frameworks in global fashion.
Our R&D team is actively developing Schiffli embroidery using dyed organic cotton, viscose with natural dye compatibility, and multi-colour sustainable yarn combinations. Sustainability and design quality are not trade-offs in our production model.
Start Your Schiffli Embroidery Project With Us
If you are a garment exporter, fashion brand, or sourcing manager looking for a technically capable, certified, and export-ready Schiffli embroidery manufacturer in India, Shri Jagdamba Embroidery Pvt. Ltd. is ready to work with you.
Request a sample and evaluate our stitch quality and fabric hand directly. Share your design brief and receive a structured quotation with clear production timelines. Discuss your collection requirements with our technical team and get specific, practical answers.
We work with buyers who value precision, compliance, and a reliable production partner. If those are your sourcing priorities, let us have a conversation.
Contact us at sales@sjepl.in or call 0129-4324141. Visit us at Plot No. 55, Sector 68, Phase IMT, Faridabad, Haryana 121004.
