Handloom Weaving

This fabric from Surendranagar is inlayed with thread during weaving to create geometrical patterns and peacock motifs.

Mashru is a mixed fabric, woven with a combination of cotton and silk. It was originally used by Muslim men, as they were prohibited from wearing pure silk. This weaving technique was prevalent in Iraq and the Arab countries. This might have been the influencing factor for the rise of Mashru tradition in India. It was once woven in the whole country, but has now been confined to the state boundaries of Gujarat. Patan is one of the most important centers of Mashru weaving.

Tripura Handlooms is an integral part of Tripura Arts and Crafts. The art of weaving is considered very sacred in Tripura. They perform a worship of Riha, which is the chest cover of the elders in the family. These are all hand-woven garments. The weavers in Tripura have expertized the handloom art. They have an ingrained aesthetic sense in them, which compliments their weaving of fantastic fabrics.

Handlooms in Tripura represents a harmonious blend of three kinds of traditions of weaving like: Tribal, Bengali and Manipuri. The Tribal Fabrics in Tripura are elegant in their designs. The color combination is rich and bold. The texture is long lasting.

Orissa is a thickly tribal inhabited state, consisting of sixtytwo tribes living in different parts of the state - in the highlands, forests, valleys and in the foot hills. They make their own traditional ethnic cottage and live in it. In order to proclaim the self identity intra groupwise, socially and culturally different tribes live in different places. Each tribal community has separate mode of living and they differ significantly in their dress, ornaments, skill in building houses, and moreover in their way of life.

Aurangabad is famous for Mashru and Himru fabrics. These two types of fabrics are made of cotton and silk having a shine like satin. Himru shawls are less expensive and are made by using both silk and cotton threads. These threads help in producing beautiful multi-colored designs on these shawls. The actual ornamental design is formed on the principle of extra weft figuring. The extra silk weft left loose makes the Himru shawl soft, which almost feels like silk. Weavers were brought to Aurangabad from Banaras and Ahmedabad by Mohamed-bin-Tughlak and thus the Himru industry started.

Haryana is quite famous for its woven work, be it shawls, dhurries, robes or lungis. The Haryana shawl, an offshoot of the shawl from Kashmir, is a work of art in itself. Known as phulkari, it is a spectacular piece of clothing, full of magnificent colours and intricate embrodiery. Worn with with a tight-fitting choli (blouse) and ghaghra (long skirt), it forms the basic winter wear for the women of Haryana.

Chattisgarh is known for Kosa silk. Besides saris and salwar suits, the fabric is used to create lehengas, stoles, shawls and menswear including jackets, shirts, achkans and sherwanis.

Cotton Fabrics are one of the famous and attractive handicrafts made by the tribals of Bastar.These are made of Kosa thread which is made from a kind of worm found in the forest, handwoven and handprinted by tribes who trace their lineage to the 14 th centuary weaver-saint-poet Kabir. The handprinting is generally done with the natural vegetable dye extracted from aal , found in the forest of Bastar.These fabrics includes cotton saris - well-known as Bastar Kosa Sadi , dress materials and drapes.

Weaving and embroidery is one of the main industry of Assam. Some of the Assamese traditional garments like Mekhela - Chadar, two piece Assamese ladies apparel have beautiful designed borders.

Handloom comprises of one of the oldest industries in the northeastern state of Assam. It is known far and wide for its rich textures and designs. Every handloom product created in Assam is unique and has no resemblance with the other.