City of Ahmedabad is famous for its woven fabrics which are available in wide ra

nge. Fabrics painted by traditional methods are major attractions here. Vegetabl
e dye, tie and dye work, gold & silver thread work (zari), fine silk embroiderie
s, patola and tanchoi are USP of Gujarati textiles.
The city of Ahmedabad is a shoppers paradise especially for those who like fabric
such as exclusive saris, bedspreads, bandanas and other handicrafts. Zari embri
odery is the most famous work found in the city. The Textile hub of India, Ahmed
abad certainly makes sense to shop for cloth.
Handicrafts, which are still manufactures in typical traditional ways, are the h
allmark of Gujarat. So if you are visiting this city, try buy some of the handic
rafts as a remembrance of a place which is revered for its simple life and tradi
tional living. Among the famous handicrafts market here, C.G. Market is most pro
minent and also very popular for its patola saris.
Clay utensils, embellished with paintings and colourful lines are actually artic
les of daily usage here. Khadi Gramudyog Emporiums, Hastkala, Kapasi Handicrafts
Emporium, Saurashtra Emporium and Bandhej are some of the places where one can
look for the cotton wear, handicrafts and other items to take back home.
Popularly termed as the textile state of India, Gujarat has one of the most flou
rishing textile industries in the country. Also said to be the Manchester of the
East and the Denim Capital of India the textile industry in Gujarat contributes
almost 3% towards the GDP of India. India holds a major portion of global texti
le market share. Textiles in Gujarat are responsible for contributing a major sh
are of India's art and crafts.
It is also among the oldest industries in the state. Due to its perfect combinat
ion of skilled labor, vast variety of raw materials, seamless blend of yarns and
the use of traditional techniques the state produces the finest range of textil
es.
One of the major factors behind the success of the textile industry in Gujarat i
s that the state has managed to preserve its old tradition and culture.
The textile industry in Gujarat involves quite a sizable chunk of the population
. Brands like Arvind Mills, Parag and Praful belong to Gujarat. More than 90% of
the polyester used in India is produced in Surat. The two major textile manufac
turing cities in Gujarat are Ahmedabad and Surat. Both these cities together acc
ount for almost 50% of the total textiles produced in Gujarat.
Bandhej : is the name given to the tie and dye fabric of Jamnagar, Mandvi and Bh
uj. The art of bandhej is known for its typical designs and patterns. These are
often used in wedding outfits when they are called gharchola odhni and sarees.
The tie-dyed fabrics or the bandhej of Gujarat are certainly the best of its kin
d produced in India. Also known as bandhani or bandhni, it is made on superfine
cotton mulmul. Sometimes you will find the use of muslin along with the gold che
cks and motifs created in the jamdani style.
The maximum concentration of bandhej dyeing is in Kutch. Nevertheless there is a
substantial volume of quality work from Jamnagar and Saurashtra, lying on the s
outhern coast of Gulf of Kutch.
You must be very eager to know how this special art is done. Here are the steps:
The printed portion of the fabric are pinched and pushed into small points
then knotted with 2 or 3 twists of thread
The knotted parts remain uncolored
the fabric is dyed in the lightest shade first
re-tied and dyed in the darker color
The fabric may be tied and dyed many a times, depending on the number of shades i
n the final color scheme
The cost of the bandhej of Gujarat rests not only on the quality of the fabric,
but also on the number of times it has to be tied and dyed as well as the intric
acy of the pattern.
You can have a piece of bandhej from the State Government Emporium of Gujarat kn
own as the 'Gurjari' or any other outlet. If you are really keen to know about t
he making of the art please walk into the villages where you will find people, b
oth men as well as women are equally busy with their work on bandhej.
Matani :Matani or more popularly called Matani Pechedi or Mata-ni-pachedi are ma
de by the Vaghris for the purpose of various rituals. They employ a combination
of block printing for the outline of the pattern as well as the painting of the
mordants.
The Matani is actually a tribute to the Mother Goddess Durga. Hence the dominant
motif is essentially of the Goddess Durga in her several forms and aspects.
Goddess Durga is the symbol of 'shakti' or 'strength'. She is worshiped all over
the state of Gujarat with overwhelming faith and sincerity. The Gujaratis belie
ve firmly that the Goddess will recover them from all the dangers and adversitie
s in life. In the art of Matani in Gujarat, Devi Durga has been depicted in vari
ous forms which include her pleasant as well as 'Rudra Rupa' or the violent form
. The former symbolizes wealth and prosperity whereas the latter indicates viole
nce whereby the Goddess kills Ashuras or the evil power and restores peace.
Like any other art and craft, Matani portrays the face of the society. It eviden
tly illustrates the religious inclinations of the Gujaratis particularly towards
Devi Durga which is quite obvious from the fabulous way they celebrate the 'Nav
aratri'.
Matani reflects a passion among the Gujaratis for colors and a vision for the in
tricate designs and forms. It is the expression of an artistic personality as we
ll as rich cultural heritage.
Ahmedabad is a major center of traditional as well as contemporary textiles. You
can find here Mata-ni-pachedi narrative cloth paintings and block-printing. Whi
le in Ahmedabad visit the Calico Museum of Textiles. Here you will find the excl
usive collection of Gujarati traditional fabrics.
Patola :The Patola silk from Patan is very popular and one of the largest sellin
g fabrics in the country. The sarees are a mark of tradition and grandeur depict
ing Gujarat as a land of prosperity and wealth. This is unique to Patan and is k
nown for its utmost delicate designs woven with great expertize and quality.
Surat is popular for velvets with Patola designs. You can identify four characte
ristic patterns in the Patola of Gujarat woven traditionally by the Salvi commun
ity.
The double ikat sarees with all over motifs of flowers, parrots, dancing figures
and elephants. These are for the use of the Jains and Hindus.
For the Muslim Vora community, sarees with geometric and floral designs are made.
There are the sarees woven for the Maharashtrian Brahmins with a plain, dark-colo
red body and borders with women and birds, called the Nari Kunj.
There are sarees specially woven for the traditional export markets in the Far Ea
st.
All these patterns are unique in style and composition and they have been develo
ped keeping in mind the actual choice of the different communities.
The weaving of Patola is done on simple traditional handlooms. The dyes employed
in these fabrics are made from vegetable extracts and other natural colors. A P
atola saree requires 4 to 6 months to be made on an average.
Gujarat Patola exhibits a passion for color and a deep sense for design and form
. They convey a message of the state's rich cultural heritage.
You can look for a Patola silk in the State Government Emporium of Gujarat calle
d the 'Gurjari'. Or you can actually walk along the muddy paths of the weavers'
villages and see yourself how laboriously are they making Patola.
Manek Chowk
Lonely Planet review
This busy space and surrounding narrow streets are the commercial heart of the o
ld city. Weave your way through the crowds to soak up the atmosphere and browse
the vegetable and sweet stalls and silver and textile shops. Gamthiwala , by the
entrance to the Mausoleum of Ahmed Shah, sells quality block-printed textiles.
Law Garden Night Market
An evening market packed with stalls selling glittering wares from Kachchh and S
aurashtra. Its chock-a-block with fantastically decorated cholis (sari blouses) a
nd chaniyas (long, wide traditional skirts), as well as embroidered wall hanging
s, costume jewellery and more.
Hansiba
The retail outlet of the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Hansiba sells
colourfully woven and embroidered shawls, saris, other clothes and wall hanging
s
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/gujarat/ahmedabad-amdavad/shopping/
arts-crafts/hansiba#ixzz2t51Yidoq
Garvi Gurjari
This state-government-run outlet has three floors of Gujarat crafts including si
lk and handloomed-cotton saris, painted metal jewellery boxes and clothing in fo
lksy designs. There are some good finds if you rummage around.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/gujarat/ahmedabad-amdavad/shopping/
arts-crafts/garvi-gurjari#ixzz2t51foJl7
info@krioshotel.com Bhanwar
Krios Hotel Ambawadi - 2668
Lemon tree - 4728, 4,831
08288095422 kamal
summit
Always Hotel Riverview
Shopping in Jamnagar
The Bandhani `tie-and-dye' of Jamnagar is well known the world over
Apart from these, artifacts like Bangles with inlay of brass, Beetle nut cracker
s, agate paperweights; Kum kum, Kajal, Surma, ; brass covered wooden chests etc,
are available at the Khadhi Bhandars around Hotel President.
Modern articles can also be bought from around the city.
One can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the lanes leading out from Lind
i Bazaar & Chandni Bazaar
Its a unique expression of a very time-consuming process of tying thousands of ti
ny knots in a piece of fabric that has first been folded upon itself a number of
times. This is then dyed in several stages using different colors. The knots ar
e pulled apart and the fabric is unfolded to reveal a repeating pattern in a var
iety of hues. The process, believed to have been used in the area for up to 5000
years, is used for Saris, Shirts, Shawls, Bed sheets, Curtains, Table Cloths, B
ags, and other items.
'Bandhani' (tie and dye fabric) of Jamnagar, Mandvi and Bhuj are famous for thei
r intricate designs and patterns, which are used, in wedding outfits called as '
gharchola, odhni' and sarees.
The tie-dyed fabrics of Gujarat are perhaps the best produced in India. Also kno
wn as 'Bandhej', it is produced on superfine cotton 'mulmul', muslin sometimes c
ombined with gold checks and motifs worked in the 'jamdani' technique.
Dyeing is a hereditary art. In the past cloth was dyed in colours extracted from
trees and flowers.
The highest intensity of Bandhini dyeing is in Kutch, but some of the best works
are from Jamnagar.
The printed portion of the fabric are pinched and pushed into small points and
then knotted with 2 or 3 twists of thread. The knotted parts remain uncoloured a
nd the fabric is dyed in the lightest shade first, retied and dyed in the darker
colour.
The fabric may be tied and dyed several times, depending on the number of shades
in the final colour scheme. The price of the 'bandhani' depends not only on the
fabric, but also on the number of times it has to be tied and dyed and on the i
ntricacy of the design.
The Bandhani, tie and dye variety of sari is a very popular women's wear. It inv
olves an intricate process of tying knots on the fine white fabrics, which are d
ipped in colours. The hues of deeper shades are used over the previous ones to f
orm the coloured background of the cloth.
'Bandhani' sarees are easily available in all the bazaars and shopping centres o
f Jamnagar and here you can also find them brocaded with fine gold thread zaris.
The Vanza Bandhani Shop at Inderaprashth Shopping Centre, owned by Mr. Yogesh Va
nza has an extensive and beautiful collection of new and old designs
Modern articles can also be bought from around the city. Easiest place to shop
in Jamngar is the Super Market..
One can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the lanes leading out from Lind
i Bazaar & Chandi Bazaar.


Shopping in Jamnagar :-)
The printed portion of the fabric are pinched and pushed into small points and t
hen knotted with 2 or 3 twists of thread. The knotted parts remain uncoloured an
d the fabric is dyed in the lightest shade first, retied and dyed in the darker
colour.
The fabric may be tied and dyed several times, depending on the number of shades
in the final colour scheme. The price of the 'bandhani' depends not only on the
fabric, but also on the number of times it has to be tied and dyed and on the i
ntricacy of the design.
The Bandhani, tie and dye variety of sari is a very popular women's wear. It inv
olves an intricate process of tying knots on the fine white fabrics, which are d
ipped in colours. The hues of deeper shades are used over the previous ones to f
orm the coloured background of the cloth.
'Bandhani' sarees are easily available in all the bazaars and shopping centres o
f Jamnagar and here you can also find them brocaded with fine gold thread zaris.

The shops where one can buy Bandhani fabrics are Umar Ibhrahim (outside Kalavad
naka) Vanza (in Darbargadh Circle), Mahavir Bandhani (Chanid Bazaar), they have
extensive and beautiful collection of new and old designs
Ahemdabad
Shopping malls might provide air conditioned comfort and a huge collections of a
ll brands under one roof, but to really get the feel of a city, a walk around th
e old-world shopping areas is just the thing. All tastes and budgets will find s
omething to buy in the markets of Ahmedabad. Most shoppers in Ahmedabad fall in
love with stunning traditional fabrics like bandhej, tie-and-dye, bandhni or pl
ain printed cotton. While shopping at Ahmedabad, don't miss out on the intricate
embroidery and zari work. Go crazy picking from the myriad varieties of pottery
and terracotta items, dhurries, carpets, blankets and rugs.
Teen Darwaja is for those who appreciate old-world charm. Check out this grand c
ollection of antiques, furniture and trendy accessories like cowbell wind chimes
, mirror studded wall hangings and Kutchi embroidered tablecloths. The bustling
marketplace is also immensely popular for beautiful jewellery made of precious a
nd semi-precious stones necklaces, earrings, bangles and brooches. Be ready to b
argain to get the price down. While here, look for colourful chania cholis to be
worn during Navratri.
The bustling market place of Dhal Garwad houses merchandise that is colorful, v
aried and extremely attractive. Shops line both sides of the road and the bylane
s are a maze that any enthusiastic shopper will love to get lost in. THis is the
best place to pick up traditional bandhej fabric in Ahmedabad and silk patola s
aris that the city is famous for. Go with your entire family for a day of fun, c
hoose from a wide range of dress materials, saris, bedcovers and dupattas. The p
rices here are lower that you'll find compared to most other markets in the city
.
C.G Market is also a must-visit shopping area. Attractive pottery, patola saris,
terracotta toys, wall hangings and lots more. Look for items to add a special t
ouch to your house or gift to someone. The patola silk saris here will demand at
tention silk saris woven in different hues and patterns are valued for their sof
tness and shine. Available in two types namely the Rajkot Patola and Patan Patol
a, these saris are the pride of Ahmedabad.
This river-side flea market of Ravivari is a traditional market that many urban
-dwellers would very likely have not seen. A sea of animals, music, crockery, cl
othing and gadgets is what you get here. The market is crowded and bustling, so
come prepared to elbow and be elbowed as you make your way around.You can buy an
ything from aluminium and plastic wares to recycled saris for unbelievable price
s. If you're looking for furniture for your home, cosmetic, bags, toys, kitchenw
are, old magazines and books and almost everything under the sun, get to Ravivar
i and you won't be disappointed.
If your still haven't had your fill of shopping old-style in Ahmedabad, don't mi
ss Law Garden. This is an evening market and has stalls that sell wares from Kut
ch and Saurashtra. For festive wear mirror-work cholis and richly decorated cha
niyas, look no further. The shops here also sell embroidered wall hangings, cost
ume jewellery and lots more.
http://www.mygola.com/indulge-in-some-ethnic-shopping-in-ahmedabad/q13371
What this tour is about:
The state of Gujarat is famous for its textile crafts, including several styles
of weaving, embellishment, dyeing and printing. Luckily, these crafts still surv
ive, thanks largely to continued patronage by the modern Indian woman. Several n
on-profits have emerged as catalysts, providing financial, technical and social
support for textile craftspersons. Indian haute couture designers are also showc
asing these crafts in their work. As a result, Indian textiles today are in the
midst of an exciting phase, adapting themselves to modern tastes and lifestyles,
while maintaining a strong sense of tradition in motifs, colours and designs.
For those interested in crafts and textiles Ahmedabad provides the ideal stompin
g grounds. It is home to what is possibly the world's best textile museum (The C
alico Museum). It has another excellent museum the Shreyas Museum of Folk Art an
d Culture that goes beyond textiles to include toys, crafts, and the performing
arts. Several non-profits have outlets in Ahmedabad and the city's street market
s are a great place to see a wide range of textiles, both traditional as well as
modern.
Places we will visit:
In this tour, we will see the following places:
The Calico Museum (closed Wednesdays and bank holidays) the Museum has an outsta
nding collection of handicraft textiles spanning five centuries, beautifully dis
played in a heritage mansion. A guided tour is offered by the Museum, in groups
of 20. We will obtain an appointment for you.
The Shreyas Folk Art and Culture of Gujarat Museum (closed on Mondays and bank h
olidays)
Hansiba, the retail outlet of the non-profit SEWA (run as a co-operative by wome
n, offering fair prices and good quality)
A small bookshop with one of the best collections of books on textiles and craft
s that we have seen
Street shopping at Law Garden (remember to bargain!)
When:
All days of the week except Mondays, Wednesdays and bank holidays.
Where:
Starts and ends at your hotel.
Cost:
Rs 7500 for a car tour (max 4 adults). Includes AC Toyota Innova, driver with ce
ll phone, fuel, parking charges, knowledgeable English-speaking guide, bottled w
ater and all taxes. Excludes entrances, meals, tips.