What are artisanal fabrics?
Handloom fabrics are handmade or handwoven on a traditional textile loom named charkha. It can be done by skilled artisans or craftsmen using traditional techniques that have been handed down through generations. The fabrics are produced with a focus on sustainability, high quality, and cultural heritage.
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History of handwoven fabrics in India
The Indian practice of handwoven fabric goes back more than 5,000 years, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3000 BCE). In ancient Indian scriptures such as the Rigveda, spinning and weaving are referred to as dignified professions. In the early centuries, India was renowned for producing fine cotton and silk. Famous travelers such as Herodotus of Greece and Faxian of China praised Indian fabrics for their softness and beautiful craft.
During the Mughal period (16th-18th centuries), handcrafted Indian textiles reached new heights. Skilled weavers created beautiful textiles like brocades in Banaras, jamdani in Bengal, and pashmina shawls in Kashmir. These fabrics were exported to Persia, Central Asia, and Europe through both land and sea routes. Cities like Surat, Dhaka, and Masulipatnam became important centers for textile trade, and Indian fabrics were in high demand around the world.
Decline of handwoven fabrics during British rule
Things changed during British colonization in the 18th and 19th centuries. The British introduced machine-made fabrics from England and made policies that affected India’s traditional handloom industry. Indian weavers lost their jobs as British cloth took over the markets. Everyone wore the machine-made fabrics, and exports of Indian textiles were a downfall. This led to widespread poverty among weavers.
In the early 1900s, Mahatma Gandhi started the Swadeshi movement to encourage Indians to wear khadi as a way to resist British goods and support local craftspeople. Indian khadi became a symbol of independence and pride in local craftsmanship.
Bringing Indian handlooms back to life after independence
After independence (1947), India worked to revive the handloom sector. The government supported weavers by forming many schemes. Today, India produces 95% of the world’s handwoven textiles. Famous fabrics like khadi, wild silk, and muga silk, and styles like Kanjeevaram silk, Pochampally ikat, chanderi, and tangail-style weaves are still popular.
Now, as people look for sustainable and ethical fashion, Indian handloom textiles are once again in demand. It needs a lot of patience, care, skill, and hard work to weave a single fabric. Each fabric shows the tradition and skills of the artisanal weavers.
What makes Indian handwoven fabrics so special
High-quality sustainable material
Many handcrafted fabrics are made from natural fibers like cotton, organic cotton, silk, linen, wool, and jute. The fibers are strong, high-quality, and sustainable. Cotton and jute can biodegrade in 1 to 4 months, silk can take around 1 to 4 years, and wool can be broken down within 3 to 4 months.
Durability and strength
One of the most remarkable qualities of Indian handwoven fabrics is their exceptional durability. Traditional weaving and stitching techniques can produce strong and long-lasting fabrics that can last for years. Unlike mass-produced fabrics, handwoven fabrics are more durable.
Heritage craftsmanship
Each handwoven piece carries centuries of tradition. Indian skilled artisans use many techniques passed down through generations by weaving intricate patterns by hand on traditional looms. Each fabric is unique and also rich in cultural significance.
Supporting heritage and livelihoods
Handweaving supports rural livelihoods across India. There are 8 million handweavers in India working every single day. Choosing handwoven fabrics means you are supporting 4 million households that are engaged in handloom weaving, like tailoring, hand spinning, hand embroidery, dyeing, and many more.
Uniquely woven fabrics
No two handwoven fabrics are exactly alike. Each piece shows the weaver’s skill and creativity. Since every artisanal fabric is manually woven by skilled Indian artisans, its patterns and textures cannot be replicated in any other fabric.
Why choose Green Tailor for artisanal fabrics
As a supplier of natural fabrics and products at Green Tailor, we proudly say that we are part of the Indian artisanal fabric supply network. Our range of handcrafted fabrics and products includes Khadi (100 g/m²), Khadi (110 g/m²), Khadi (120 g/m²), Khadi (125 g/m²), wild silk, kala cotton, muga silk, and many more.
All our fabrics are RFD (ready for dyeing); none of the items are dyed. We aim to make our high-quality fabrics and products available to everyone who is looking for natural collections. As a textile supplier, we supply worldwide; all our fabrics and products are available at no MOQ.
For custom dyeing, fabric sourcing, or yarn sourcing, our MOQs start from 100 meters/piece. Feel free to contact us at [email protected].