The fly-shuttle loom, throw-shuttle loom, pit loom and loin loom are all used to make Indian textiles. The techniques are ancient and those in use produce a variety of types of textiles, of which the following are examples.

Chikan embroidery consists of 32 different types of stitches , usually done on fine fabric, which create a shadow or lacy effect. The designs are printed on the fabric using hand-carved wooden blocks. The result is a fabric ornamented with stiches.

Phulkari in which geometric patterns are developed with a horizontal and vertical darn-stich up to 0.25" long. Variant stiches include stem-, satin-, herring bone- and chain-stiches. In bagh embroidery the stich is so dense that it produces a double layered fabric.

Ikat is a weave design determined by tie-dying the original thread. In single ikat only the warp or the weft is tie-dyed. In double ikat motifs are achieved by a juxtapositioning of similarly dyed shades on equal lengths of warp and weft.

Brocade in which additional threads are placed in between the regular warp and weft. Silver and gold thread will produce a raised ornament, or zari brocade, which may be so dense that the background silk is almost invisible when it is called kinkhab brocade.

Jamdani fabric has silver, gold or colored thread added along the warp.

Bandhni textiles use numerous tiny dots produced by tie-dying with a continuous thread.

Mashru is a fabric with a silk warp, and a cotton weft, probably originally woven for Muslim men. The word is derived from permitted meaning in this case a permitted cloth.

Pashmina produced from the wool of Himalayan goats provides in its finest form the thread for the fabled shahtoosh shawl, reputably the finest of all weaves, which in its normal form can be drawn through a finger ring. Legend has it that the finest ever made was drawn through the eye of a needle! Collectors are willing to pay large amounts of money for old fine shahtoosh shawls.

India displays numerous embroidery arts, printed textiles, and simple to complex painted fabrics used to produce merchandise ranging from curtains to shawls. Bolts of material from the mills of Uttar Pradesh have been used in such unique settings as the ancestral homes of England and when made up into curtains are truly spectacular and sell for thousands of dollars..

We are able to get many kinds and sizes of fabric and textile for interior designers: either as bolts or made-up articles ranging from clothing to bedspreads, tablecloths and curtains. During our next trip to India designs can be displayed as images sent to you as attachments to your eMail address. Examples of the types of fabric arts available are shown below.