Craft guides · 8 min read · Updated Jun 20, 2026
A guide to Indian handwoven textiles
India's handloom traditions are a map of the country in cloth — each region with its fibre, its technique, and its signature. Here's an orientation to the most loved, and what makes each genuine.
Silks of the weaving cities
- Banarasi (Varanasi): opulent silk brocade with gold and silver zari, woven for weddings and heirlooms.
- Kanjivaram (Tamil Nadu): heavy, lustrous silk with contrast borders and temple motifs.
- Chanderi (Madhya Pradesh): sheer, lightweight silk-cotton with a soft glow.
Wool from the mountains
Pashmina from Kashmir is spun from the fine undercoat of the Changthangi goat and woven (and often hand-embroidered) into shawls of remarkable warmth and lightness. Genuine Pashmina is rare, slow, and priced accordingly — a key reason to buy verified.
Resist-dye and print traditions
- Ikat (Odisha, Telangana, Gujarat): yarn dyed before weaving, giving the pattern its soft, feathered edge.
- Bandhani (Gujarat, Rajasthan): tie-dye in tiny knots, forming dotted fields of colour.
- Block print (Rajasthan — Bagru, Sanganer): hand-carved wooden blocks, often with natural dyes.
Buying handwoven well
Check the reverse — handloom looks worked on both sides. Look for a GI mark where the textile has one (many on this list do). And buy where the weaver is named and paid. Browse textiles on haat.
Frequently asked
- How can I tell real Pashmina from a blend?
- Genuine Pashmina is exceptionally fine, warm, and light, and is never cheap. Buy from a verified source; a GI or lab certification removes the guesswork.
- Why are handwoven textiles more expensive?
- They take days or weeks on a hand loom, often with hand-spun yarn and natural dye. You're paying for skilled human time, not a print run.