Ahmedabad’s Textile Industry: The Ultimate Craft Tour for Curious Travelers

There are cities where textiles are sold. And then there’s Ahmedabad, where they’ve lived. Ahmedabad’s textile industry, where craft is frozen in time or tucked away behind glass. It’s stitched into daily life, layered into local identity, and proudly worn by generations who never forgot where the thread begins.

Walk the lanes of the Old City and you’ll get it. A weaver at his loom. An elderly woman bargaining over Bandhani dupattas. A shopkeeper tracing patterns on Ajrakh cloth like he’s reading poetry. Here, every fabric has memory and meaning. 

Ahmedabad - Manchester of India

Ahmedabad’s connection to textiles didn’t start with factories or industrial titles. It began with cotton production, skilled hands at work, and a location that made it a natural trade stop. Long before industrialization, the city was already known for its weaving traditions.

In 1861, the city’s first textile mill opened its doors, and over the next few decades, Ahmedabad transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse. By the early 1900s, it had over 100 working mills, exporting cotton cloth to countries worldwide. 

Calico Museum of Textiles: India’s Finest Textile Preserved in Time

If you want to understand India through its textiles, the Calico Museum of Textiles is your starting point. Housed in a traditional haveli and run through tightly booked guided tours, it’s as much about storytelling as it is about artifacts.

Inside, you’ll find textiles that once hung in royal courts or temples, some made for rituals, others just for reverence. There are wall hangings dyed with natural pigments, Kashmiri shawls that took years to finish, and ceremonial pieces that whisper of bygone eras.

Pro Tip: Book your spot in advance, as the tours are limited and the slots fill up fast.

Why Craft Still Lives in Everyday Spaces

Even with all its industrial might, the city still makes room for the handmade because people still rely on it.

You’ll come across Bandhani artists tying thousands of tiny knots to the fabric before dyeing. Ajrakh printers pressing carved wooden blocks into fabric, layer by layer. Mirrorwork embroidery is still stitched by hand in the homes of Kutch artisans. 

You’ll also spot other folk arts: 

• Lippan Kaam: A mud-and-mirror wall art that lights up village homes. 

• Rogan Painting: A technique practiced by only a few families using hand-mixed castor paste.

• Bhujodi Weaving: Warm wool shawls crafted on looms by the Vankar community.

Patola - The Pride of Ahmedabad’s Culture

If you really want to see devotion in motion, take a day trip to Patan. It’s just a few hours from Ahmedabad and home to one of India’s most mind-boggling textile traditions: Patola weaving.

It’s double ikat, where both sets of threads warp and weft are dyed before the weaving even begins. Every single thread has to line up perfectly to create the final pattern. One saree can take six months to complete. Only a few families in India still practice this weaving technique. 

Ahmedabad’s Textile Markets - A Shopper’s Paradise

Markets here aren’t just for buying. They’re for wandering, exploring, and listening. Every stall holds a story, and every fabric has a place in someone’s memory.

1. Rani No Hajiro Market

Right near centuries-old tombs, this market hums with color and character. Handloom fabrics, intricate Ikats,  jewelry, you’ll find pieces that feel less like souvenirs and more like treasures.

What to shop for: Ajrakh prints, Mashrush cotton, traditional jewelry

2. Ratanpole Market

A lane of fabric shops stacked with silk, cotton, velvet, and everything in between. Whether you're buying a saree or material for a custom outfit, this is a textile hub. 

What to shop for: Sarees, salwar materials, boutique accessories

3. Dhalgarwad Market

Here, you’ll find the kind of pieces people travel for, Bandhej sarees, embroidered kurtas, chaniya cholis with mirrorwork so rich, they look lit from within.

What to shop for: Wedding outfits, hand-embroidered garments

4. Lal Darwaza

From crowds, carts,  street food, to stalls selling everything from ethnic skirts to beaded wallets, this market is best for souvenir shopping. Dive in with energy and an open mind.

What to shop for: Handbags, jewelry, fun fashion finds

Exclusive Tips for the Ultimate Shopping Experience in Ahmedabad

• Start your day early. Markets are easier to navigate before noon as the crowds are smaller.

• Don’t just shop, ask. Many vendors are artisans themselves, from textile mills in Ahmedabad. Let them share their process.

• Haggling is fine, within reason. Keep it light. Keep it respectful.

• Patan is worth it. Seeing Patola up close changes how you view every piece of clothing.

• Support the right people. Look for genuine artisans and handmade tags. The difference is visible and meaningful.

Pro Tip: Book your cheap flight tickets to Ahmedabad over the phone with Travelopod and get up to 30% off.

What You Carry Home Is More Than Fabric

Sure, you’ll leave Ahmedabad with bags full of textiles and intricate weaves. But the real takeaway is a deeper appreciation for the work that goes behind each weave. For the families keeping these crafts alive. For the kind of patience and care you just don’t see in mass-produced fashion.

And once you’ve experienced that in a sunlit workshop or felt the weight of a Patola saree freshly woven, you’ll understand that what you wear can carry entire stories, stitched with time and soul.

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