Indian handloom products have a rich past dating back to the medieval period when local kings and nawabs patronized the artisans. Today they have the support of the government.

Visiting the most popular handloom cities is the best way to know more about Indian handloom products that have great demand in the global markets. Each town has a different way of working and various products to offer. And the difference in their products is visible in their designs and colors.

Let’s Start the Tour of Indian Handloom Products Cities.

1. Jaipur

Jaipur is known for its architecture and rich history. It is a land of warriors, folk artists, and handlooms. Also, it is a tourist place. People from across the globe visit Jaipur for tourism and buy gift items like clothes with bandhani, gota patti, zari, and kinara. These are some of the best-selling handloom products that travel from Jaipur to different continents and countries. The designs are created with block printing on fabrics, and the artisans still follow the traditional way of printing. They use blocks and print designs on clothes with conventional hand printing.

2. Varanasi

The city of Banaras on the banks of the Ganga is more famous for its silk sarees with zari embroidery and brocade. Also, it is where artisans weave saree with gold and silver threads for weddings. And these exclusive sarees fetch a high price in domestic and international markets. Another vital product of Varanasi is Jamdani weaves which are cotton handloom clothes with vivid patterns created all over. Also, Varanasi is a tourist place where people from across the globe come to take a holy dip in Ganga. And it won’t be wrong to say that tourists help the weavers by holding their products respective countries.

3. Surat

The city of Surat on the west coast has been an important trading center since medieval times. It is famous for textile and diamond trading. And it is still one of the most popular markets for textiles and diamonds worldwide. Its handloom artisans produce double ikat woven silk sarees called Patolas. The Gujarati Bandahnis are also popular in the international markets. These artisans have been working on handloom for centuries. And they are thriving with the government support and the tourists that come to this city to explore its rich heritage.

4. Panipat

Panipat has the maximum number of handloom manufacturers in India. And for this reason, it is also called the handloom city of India. The city produces home furnishing items used for interior decoration. And these products are in great demand in both domestic and international markets. Since they are used in interior decoration, architects and interior designers require these products. Affordability is another reason for the popularity of these products. The easy availability of raw materials helps keep the price affordable. Also, you don’t have an interior designer to use these products.

5. Lucknow

The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is famous for its handloom products, which include chikankari work on cloth. The city artisans produce amazing chikandari on caps, kurtas, sarees, and almost every clothes. And it won’t be an exaggeration to say that this artwork has no parallels in the international market. It is unique to this city, and only Lucknow artisans know how to produce chikankari work on fabrics. If you look at the history of Lucknow chikankari, you will find that it is a tradition by the families involved in chikankari work.

6. Bhadohi

Carpet is one of the best-selling Indian handloom products in Both domestic and international markets. It has been used in homes and hotels. The high demand for this product keeps the artisans of Bhadohi, a small city in Uttar Pradesh, busy day and night. They get orders from international markets and work hard to complete the orders-on time. The government of India stands by those artisans to help them fulfill their commitments. The carpet industry employs a large- number of artisans and brings foreign revenue to the country. Today Bhadohi is one of the largest carpet manufacturers in the world.

7. Kota

Kota is a small city in Rajasthan, but it has earned a big name in the international market due to its products, especially “Kota weave” The artisans make a checkered appearance on fabrics using different threads. They make sarees with cotton and silk fabrics on khats and produce surprising square-like patterns called “Kota Doria” all over the clothes. It is a traditional form of weaving and has been in practice for centuries. Some families have been following this tradition for generations. One generation passes the gradation to another, and the trend continues.

8. Maheshwar

A small town in Madhya Pradesh, Maheshwar is famous for sarees, and the fabric is woven with different designs that make them unique and special. These fabrics feature floral borders, stripes, and checks all over. Weavers from the Mandu region have been practicing Indian handloom since the Mughal period. Earlier, they had royal patronage, and today in modern India, they have the much-needed support of the Indian government. The government supports the artisans with raw materials, technical knowledge, financial assistance, and branding.

9. Chennai

This south Indian city is a textile gold mine due to the availability of all types of fabrics. Situated in the southernmost state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is famous for Kanchipuram, Arani, and Zari silk sarees. Also, this city accommodates up to 80% of the spinning industry of the country. If you are a saree lover, you must visit this city or buy a saree produced by artisans. Chennai artisans cater to the need of both domestic and global markets.

Also, read How Indian Carpet Weavers Became Top Rugs Exporters?