A few of our favorite textiles from around India

1 Andhra Pradesh

Kalamkari – Kalamkari is an art form that depicts stories of Hindu mythology on long fabrics like sarees, dupattas, strols, wraps etc. Currently, Kalamkari is widely known for block printing.

2 Arunachal Pradesh

Apatani Weave – The Apatani weave is famous throughout the state for its zig-zag, geometrical and angular designs. The Apatani weave comes from the Apatani tribe from Arunachal Pradesh and is considered to be an advanced weaving technique.

3 Assam

Muga Silk – It is known as the “golden fibre” for its natural golden tint. Produced and found only in Assam, this silk has a fine texture and is durable. The silk’s lustre increases with every wash, and hence is known to be one of a kind silk.

4 Bihar

Bhagalpuri silk – The fabric is woven out of dyed threads of tussar cocoons. Bhagalpuri silk sarees are amongst the popular ones for the variety of colors they offer.

5 Chhattisgarh

Kosa Silk – Kosa silk is obtained from a rare worm, and is known to be the finest silk in the world.

6 Goa

Kunbi – Kunbi is a cotton fabric with checks on it that women that worked in fields wore.

7 Gujarat

Bandhani – Bandhani is a tie-dye technique that dates back to Indus Valley Civilization. Red, blue, yellow and green are the colors used for Bandhani with the essential white dots forming an interesting pattern on the fabric. You can find these patterns on dresses, dupattas, sarees etc.

8 Haryana

Panja Durries – Used as carpets and rugs, Panja Durries are made from thick threads and consist of intricate and complicated designs that turn out to look beautiful. Panja is a tool that is used in making durries.

9 Himachal Pradesh

Pashmina Fabric – Pashminas are hand-woven and processed after which products like scarves, strolls, wraps or shawls are made, and are famous for their softness and warmth.

10 Jammu and Kashmir

Kullu Shawls – The shawls are known for their bright colors, and their geometrical designs. Kullu shawls are widely popular as they’re hand woven and organic in nature.

11 Jharkhand

Kuchai Silk – Kuchai silk has seen a rise in demand in the recent times, as they are Eco friendly in nature, and their extraction does not cause any harm to the environment. Stylists say that the silk be promoted using a variety of designs for further sale in the market.

12 Karnataka

Mysore Silk – Silk sarees from Mysore are popular worldwide, for Mysore is the largest producer of silk. Their use of pure silk and gold zari makes the sarees a work of quality and fine craftsmanship.

13 Kerala

Kasavu – Kerala, famously known for its beautiful golden zari border on its off white sarees; that women take pride in wearing on the famous festival of Onam. Besides Onam, Kasavu sarees can be found at weddings as well. The mundu-saree is unbleached cotton that features beautiful line, temple or peacock designs on the pallu or on the bottom.

14 Madhya Pradesh

Chanderi – Chanderi as a fabric is also known as ‘woven air’ for its qualities of having light and sheer texture. Chanderi sarees are widely popular and are available in pure silk and a combination of silk and cotton. Chanderi sarees give you a rich, luxurious feel with the silk and Zari woven into the cotton.

15 Maharashtra

Paithani – Made of pure silk, Paithani was once upon a time used to clothe the royalties. The uniqueness of a Paithani lies in the intensive weaving technique that shows the same design on both the sides, resulting in a gorgeous, vibrant saree.

16 Manipur

Phanek Costume – Traditional Manipuri dress, the Phanek costume is a colored striped skirt made out of cotton and silk with heavy embroidery at the bottom. It is similar to wrap around skirt, and is worn by the women of the Manipur region.

17 Meghalaya

Eri Silk – Used for Pattachitra art and Kantha embroidery, Eri silk is different from any other silk for its short fibres. It’s also known for its eco-friendly production.

18 Mizoram

Phuan Cloth – Phuan is a piece of cloth which is worn as a wrap around skirt. It has intricate designs and motifs that show the status of the person in the society. Black and red are essential colors in Phuan and the black fabric is said to have originated from synthetic fur.

19 Nagaland

Naga Shawls – Naga Shawls have a variety in them as weaving is a traditional occupation of the people of Nagaland. Multiple tribes make beautiful Naga shawls distinct from each other but one common factor is that they all use red and black wool. Some of the shawls have animal motifs incorporated onto them.

20 Odisha

Sambalpuri Saree – The Sambalpuri saree is a hand woven ikat saree wherein the yarn is first tie-dyed and then woven into a gorgeous fabric. Sambalpuri sarees are found in varieties like Sonepuri, Pasapali, Bomkai, Barapali, and Bapta.

21 Punjab

Phulkari Embroidery – It is a kind of embroidery that is traditional to Punjab. It has vibrant and beautiful flowers woven onto a cloth. Phulkari weaves are known for their uniqueness in the way they’re stitched.

22 Rajasthan

Shisha Embroidery – Shisha is a kind of embroidery that uses small pieces of mirrors that are stitched onto bright colored cloths.

23 Sikkim

Lepcha – Lepcha is an age old handloom tradition of the Lepcha community of Sikkim. The base of lepcha is cotton, and the motifs that are woven onto the cotton are wool. Lepcha fabric is mostly used for decorative purposes like shoulder bags, cushion covers, napkins, table-mats etc.

24 Tamil Nadu

Kanjeevaram Silk – Coming from the Kanjeevaram region of Tamil Nadu, a Kanjeevaram silk saree is a thing of prestige. The silk sarees are known for their lustrous fabric, and the beautiful zari work while using gold in the process of weaving.

25 Telangana

Pochampally – Having a spot on UNESCO’S World Heritage Site, Pochampally is a double ikat textile with geometric patterns and the intentional bleed. Pochampally ikat is very smooth and not very heavy.

26 Tripura

Pachra Fabric – Pachra is a handloom fabric which is actually just a long piece of fabric that is worn by women as bottom wear. The specialty of this garment lies in its colorful stripes and intricate embroidery.

27 Uttar Pradesh

Chikankari Embroidery – Chikankari is intricate embroidery done on a piece of cloth that is first block printed. Initially Chikankari embroidery consisted of white threads on a white cloth, but today, a variety of colored cloths are used.

28 Uttarakhand

Panchachuli Weave – Traditional to Panchachuli range of Himalayas, Panchachuli weave is a beautiful hand woven knitting technique the rural women of Tibet have been using to make shawls, strolls and wraps out of Tibetan cashmere and sheep wool.

29 West Bengal

Jamdani Saree – Jamdani saree is considered amongst the popular textiles of West Bengal and is an essential part of the Bengali women’s wardrobes. It’s one of the finest muslins, and is hand woven from cotton. Jamdani sarees are also known for their beautiful floral motifs.