Tanabana: Handwoven and Handcrafted Textiles of India

Author / Editor: Romanie Jaitly

Publisher: Ministry of Textiles, Government of India

Edition: First Edition, 2007

Binding: Hardcover

Pages: 176

Size: 9 × 11.5 inches

Tanabana: Handwoven and Handcrafted Textiles of India is a publication devoted to the extraordinary diversity of India’s traditional textile heritage. Published by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the book celebrates the artistic traditions, specialised craftsmanship, and cultural knowledge associated with the country’s handwoven and handcrafted fabrics.

India has one of the world’s most diverse textile traditions, with distinctive weaving techniques, fabric structures, decorative patterns, embroidery styles, and natural and traditional dyeing practices developed across different regions. These textile traditions reflect the geographical, historical, social, and cultural identities of the communities that have preserved them.

The subject of the book encompasses the relationship between handloom weaving, traditional craftsmanship, and Indian visual culture. For generations, skilled artisans and weaving communities have developed intricate methods of producing textiles using specialised looms, techniques, materials, and decorative processes. Their work represents an important part of India’s intangible cultural heritage.

Traditional Indian textiles are particularly remarkable for their diversity of patterns, colours, textures, and craftsmanship. Regional weaving traditions, decorative motifs, embroidery, and handcrafted surface treatments demonstrate the extraordinary technical and artistic abilities of Indian textile artisans. These practices have also influenced contemporary fashion, interior design, textile research, and the international appreciation of handmade fabrics.

The publication is especially relevant to readers interested in the preservation of traditional craftsmanship. Handwoven and handcrafted textiles are not simply products of the textile industry; they also represent accumulated knowledge, community traditions, artistic expression, and generations of specialised skills. Documenting and appreciating these traditions helps recognise the cultural importance of India’s artisan communities.

From an artistic perspective, the subject connects textile design with broader areas of Indian decorative art. Traditional fabrics often incorporate geometric arrangements, floral patterns, symbolic motifs, intricate borders, and elaborate surface decoration. These elements demonstrate how textiles function as an important form of visual and applied art.

Published by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, this book also holds institutional and documentary interest. Government publications concerning traditional textiles provide valuable material for readers studying India’s handloom sector, artisan communities, textile heritage, and the preservation of traditional industries.

This First Edition, 2007 is presented in a substantial hardcover format, containing 176 pages and measuring approximately 9 × 11.5 inches. Its large format and visually distinctive cover, featuring traditional Indian textile patterns and fabric-inspired designs, make it particularly attractive for collectors of illustrated art and textile publications.

• Title: Tanabana: Handwoven and Handcrafted Textiles of India

• Publisher: Ministry of Textiles, Government of India

• Edition: First Edition, 2007

• Binding: Hardcover

• Pages: 176

• Size: 9 × 11.5 inches

• Language: Not specified

• Primary Subject: Indian Textile Heritage

• Topics: Handloom weaving, traditional fabrics, textile craftsmanship, Indian handicrafts, embroidery, textile design, cultural heritage

• Publication Type: Illustrated textile and cultural reference book

• Ideal for: Textile collectors, fashion designers, art historians, textile researchers, students of design, and enthusiasts of Indian handicrafts

🔹 Collector’s Note

This First Edition, 2007 hardcover of Tanabana: Handwoven and Handcrafted Textiles of India is an attractive reference publication for collections devoted to Indian textile heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and decorative arts. Published by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the volume documents a subject of considerable cultural and artistic importance. Its large-format presentation, distinctive textile-inspired cover design, and 176-page format make it particularly suitable for collectors of Indian art books, textile references, and publications documenting traditional handloom and handicraft practices.