The place in Rajasthan most famous for quilts is Jaipur. The specialty of these quilts is that they are of high quality and are as light and soft as a feather. They are available in a number of varieties like cotton block printed, velvet printed, etc.
Rajasthan is very famous for the excellent handicraft culture cultivated in the state. Rich hues and exquisite designing are the hallmarks of the hand-woven carpets and rugs. The tradition of weaving hearthrugs, carpets and tapestries dates back almost 2000 years. The thick rugs and carpeting have about 324 knots per square inch and hence make excellent furnishings. Wool is traditionally used in carpet weaving but Rajasthan carpets and rugs are often made out of silk and cotton fiber.
Mat Weaving is also a very ancient art in Tamil Nadu. Made from different materials like grass, leaves and coconut palm, they have an exquisite design. One such made from a local grass was sent to Queen Elizabeth in 1953 as a gift on her coronation. Beautiful mats are made from korai grass with cotton and silk in the weft. It is the specialty of the Pattamadai village, which is in Tirunelveli district. The colour palette is dominated by red, green and black.
Carpet making is an industry that thrives in Uttar Pradesh. Mirzapur Carpets is considered to be one of the best buys of the state.
The Mughals introduced the concept of hand weaved carpets in the sixteenth century. Agra and Lahore were the hot spots where these carpets were produced and therein exported worldwide. Carpet making reached a new standard of excellence and perfection.
Today Mirzapur and Agra produces about 80 percent of India’s carpet. Mirzapur Carpets generally constitute Persian designs. Nowadays many carpets are a blend of Western style and Persian design.
Sikkimese' practice of weaving is probably the oldest form of carpet weaving in the world. Sikkimese carpets are especially known for being hand knotted with artistic designs. The women of the Bhutia community are said to be expert carpet weavers. The traditional pattern of weaving requires a frame loom. The exclusive manner of weaving, by the hard-working artisans of Sikkim, appears in the designs of striking carpets.
Durries are the flat woven rugs that are functional as well as striking in nature. They are used either as carpets on the floor or as bed sheets. What makes them distinct from the normal carpet and the bedcover is the intricate blend of artistic designs. The bright presentation of artistry in Punjabi durries adds to decor of the room. Initially made for the countryside usage, durries now form an integral part of urban homes. They present a distinct blend of both tradition and modernization, in a composed harmony.
Carpet weaving has became popular in Gwalior. The fine quality of weaving in imaginative designs has earned Gwalior’s carpet industry an excellent reputation.
The weavers here are undisputed masters of not only weaving but dyeing too. Alas, as elsewhere in India, colouring is now done more with synthetic colours instead of eco-friendly natural dyes. Woollen carpets in vibrant colours with both floral and geometric designs are a good buy.
Navalgund in Dharwar district of Karnataka is best known for its colourful durries. The durries are marked with intricate design and stunning colours. The designs are usually in geometrical juxtaposition. They are not only in demand within the country but outside as well. The durries are outlined in delicate floral motifs with an occasional bird or animal form added to it. A special type of durrie called sutada is made in the Bijapur and Dharwar districts. They have a simple horizontal stripes in different colours. There are special designs, which lend significance to the object.
Haryana durries are rather coarse, although spectacular geometric designs adorn the entire rug. The Jats of Haryana are known to make durries with white triangles often set against a blue background. In Haryana, durrie making is concentrated in and around Panipat.
Karnal is a hot spot for bright robes and lungis (a skirt-like garment worn by men and originally invented by Gautam Buddha), a common garment worn by inhabitants of rural India.
Carpet weaving came into prominence during the Mughal era, when Akbar brought Persian weavers to India. The main centres of carpet making were Srinagar, Lahore, Amritsar, Sind, Multan, and Allahabad. At one time Delhi was a centre for the production of Herati carpets, which were designed after the style of those made in Herat, Afghanistan.