Handloom is a precious part of Indian culture and legacy. The beauty of Indian handloom is legendary that represents richness of our diversity and the artistry of the weavers. The texture and colour with the most intricate of woven patterns and embroidery can leave most anyone spellbound. India’s rich history of handlooms is celebrated on National Handloom Day i.e August 7. At present, handloom is the second largest profession next to agriculture in India.

Let's take a glimpse of a few of most popular Indian handlooms.

Ikat from Odisha : Ikat is weaved in several parts of the country but Odisha seems to have pretty much mastered the Ikat art of weaving.The unique characteristic of Ikat fabric is the blurriness of the designs. This blurriness is a result of the extremely difficult method followed while weaving, as the weaver lines up the dyed yarns exclusively so that the design patterns are attained in the most perfect manner on the completed textile.

Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh : Kalamkari is an exquisite ancient textile art form that involves hand drawing or block printing fabrics with the traditional use of natural vegetable dyes. Though an item of Kalamkari may be hand block printed rather than hand drawn, artisans will still employ the use of a pen to create the finer details of the overall design.

Bandhani or tie and dye from Gujarat : Bandhani refers to the technique of creating patterned textiles by resisting parts of a fabric by tying knots on it before it is dyed. The authentic bandhani features square or round motifs that are a result of the dye-the more intricate your tie and dye the more authentic your bandhani.

Patan patola from Gujarat : Patola is a double ikat woven sari, usually made from silk, made in Patan, Gujarat, India. The word patola is the plural form; the singular is patolu. The intricate weaving and dying techniques add to the authentic exoticism of the fabric.

Brocades from Uttar Pradesh : Banarasi saris are one of India’s most precious textile art form and wearing one is like wearing a piece of art. The weavers of Varanasi are nothing short of artists themselves as they weave with fine gold and silver metallic threads to create exotic delicate brocades. This high quality weaving procedure has not only managed to sustain itself through the years but has also bounced back into limelight for its sheer gorgeousness and beauty.

Zari work from Madhya Pradesh : Zari work is an intricate art of weaving threads made of fine gold or silver. These threads are further woven into fabrics, primarily made of silk to create intricate patterns. The designs are so exquisite that apart from the monetary value attached to these threads, the fabric also gets an overall rich and beautiful look.

Kanjeevaram from Tamil Nadu : In collection of sarees of Indian woman all around the world is incomplete without a Kanchipuram (Kanjeevaram) saree, one of India's most precious traditional treasures. This Sari depicts the essence of womanhood and adds special charm to it. A Kanjeevaram sari is bound to be a crowd puller and it can woo anybody with its absolute beauty. It continues to hold arrogance among the various silk sari varieties available in the country.