Indian Handloom Shopping

August 7th, marks National Handloom Day, a celebration of India’s vibrant handloom heritage and the artisans who keep this tradition alive. Bharat boasts a rich tradition of handloom weaving, with each state offering unique sarees through government-supported organisations.

Whenever I travel to different states across Bharat, I make it a point to visit state-affiliated weavers’ societies for sarees and apparel. A handloom symbol is typically visible on the signboard of a cooperative weavers’ society. Additionally, I always check for the Silk Mark and Zari Mark to ensure the authenticity of the fabric.

There are hundreds of weavers’ cooperative societies across the country. These shops are mostly found in the capital cities of the states, as well as in other locations.

Here are some of the notable cooperative or state-run handloom brands in India, along with their website/showroom links.

Please note that the popular government-run handloom brand Co-optex operates showrooms in major cities across Bharat, while other well-known government brands, such as APCO, Garvi Gurjari, and Tantuja, also sell cotton, silk, and silk-cotton (SICO) sarees on shopping portals like Amazon India.

I’m hoping to visit the State Emporium Complex and Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in New Delhi, where many state emporiums from across Bharat are located, making it perfect for exploring regional handicrafts and handloom treasures all in one place.

Similarly, some state-run emporiums are also located at World Trade Center in Mumbai.

Informative links:

• Locate Authorised Outlets for silk sarees
• Find Handloom Stores
• IHB Partnership Retail Stores
• Various handloom products
• Silk weaves and weaving clusters
• Silk Care

Photo Credit:

• https://indiadesignsystem.bombaydc.com/design/Handloom-Mark
• https://silkmarkindia.com/index.php/silk-care/
• https://www.cooptex.gov.in/index.php?route=extension/maza/blog/article&article_id=38