Textile crafts have flourished in India for centuries. The sky is the limit for the types of fabrics that are available in India. The range of raw materials its self includes materials like silk, cotton, wool, jute etc. due its regional diversity, India produces a host of different fabrics, each unique to a particular region. The North produces beautiful woolen fabrics with rich embroidery. The west produces some of the best cotton followed closely by the south. The East as well as the South produces rich silk fabrics.

If the various fabrics available put you in a tizzy, the different styles of embroidery available are sure to make your head spin. These are even more diverse and render Indian Textile Crafts their uniqueness, creativity and world wide popularity.

Kashmir is known for its fine woolen industry which produces famous fabrics such as the pashmina and the shahtoosh. These are used to make exquisite shawls, which are at times decorated using Kashmiri embroidery or Kashida.

The textiles of Gujarat and Rajasthan are known world over for their vibrant colors and rich embroidery. These are made from a cotton and wool mix which provides protection from the extreme climatic conditions. In contrast, the textiles of the south prefer to use garments made of white fabric.

The important silk weaving centers in India are Mysore, Assam, Banaras, Murshidabad, Surat, Kanchipuram and Paithan etc. There are numerous centers, which specialize in silk and cotton sari weaving. The popular sari traditions include the-Banarsi brocades, Maheshwari, Pochampalli, Kancheevaram, Patola, Paithani, Baluchari etc to name a few. The famous himroo and mushroo fabrics of Hyderabad are examples of mixed fabric (cotton and silk).

Assam is famous for the production of Mulberry silk which is used for making saris and traditional dress materials. It's a traditional custom to wear mulberry silk outfit in the New Year festival of Assam called bihu. This is a yellowish and brown colored delicate material produced from the mulberry silk cocoon which survives on mulberry tree leaves.

Indian Textiles are further beautified with the use of various techniques. These include:

- Embroidery/ appliqué- the various kinds of embroidery available in India are the Phulkari, the Kantha, Kathi embroidery, Rabari embroidery, Kashmiri Embroidery, Chikankari and Zardosi Embroidery, to name a few.

- Tie and Dye- this is a colorful and extravagant technique used mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The different kinds of tie and dye include the Patola and Ikat.

- Block Printing

- Kalamkari- are hand painted clothes found mainly in Andhra Pradesh.

- Mirror Work- mirror work or mirror embroidery is found mainly in Gujarat and Rajasthan and is done on colorful fabrics.

Textile crafts in India are not restricted to only producing garments. Utilitarian items such as cushions, bed sheets, covers, table mats, napkins, curtains etc are produced throughout the country. Each state has its own unique contribution in making these utilitarian items.

It is little wonder that India is known as the modern world Manchester!