Select Readings on Saris and Handlooms of India

Following is a list of select literature that many would find useful for their research on hand woven saris and handloom-handicrafts traditions of India. I found this resource useful during my own research and design work on Saris and handloom traditions of India and I am happy to share it here. Happy Reading!

Agarwal, A. and Damodaran, V., Handloom Textiles of Vidharbha: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1996.
Ahluwalia, D., Chirayil, A., Nair, S., Pawar, D., Bakshi, D. and Kothari, T., Textiles of Andhra Pradesh: Craft Documentation. Vol. 1 – 3. Ahmedabad: NID, 1992.
Annapurna, M., ‘Transitioning Markets.’ Economic and Political Weekly. Aug. 2006.
Bakshi, D. and Kothari, T., Textiles of Andhra Pradesh: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1992.
Barnard, Nicholas, Arts and Crafts of India. London Conran: Octopus, 1993.
Barnard, Nicholas and Gillow, John, Traditional Indian Textiles. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002.
Bhandani, Vandana, Textiles and Crafts of India. New Delhi: Prakash Books, 2002.
Bhardwaj, Arvind, Documentation of the Patola Loom: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1987.
Biswas, A., Indian Costumes. New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, 1985.
Boulanger, Chantal, Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping. New York: Shakti Press, 1997.
Buhler, Alfred, Indian Tie-Dyed Fabrics. Ahmedabad: Calico Museum, 1980.
Burnard, Joyce, Chintz and Cotton: India’s Textile Gift to the World. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press, 1994.
Cable, Vincent, Weston Ann and Jain, L. C., The Commerce of Culture. New Delhi: Lancer International, 1986.
Chandra, Pallab, Tangail Saris of Bengal: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1981.
Chawda, M. and Kamalesh, T., Leizang Bai Tana: The Tribal Weaving of Chota Nagpur: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 2005.
Chawda, M., Design Development for the Barpalli Handloom Cluster: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2007.
Chisti, Rta Kapur and Sanya, Amba, Madhya Pradesh: Saris of India. Ed. Martand Singh. New Delhi: Amr Vastra Kosh, 1989.
Chisti, Rta Kapur and Jain, Rahul, Handcrafted Indian Textiles: Traditions and Beyond. Ed. Martand Singh. New Delhi: Roli Books, 2000.
Chowdhury, A. K. and Khera, M., The Craft Documentation of the Woven Sarees of Maheshwar. Ahmedabad: NID, 1997.
Consumer Purchases of Textiles – 2000, Part II. New Delhi: Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, 2001.
Cox, Arthur F., A Manual of the North Arcot District in the Presidency of Madras. Government of Tamilnadu, 1998.
Dandapat, D. K., Sambalpuri Sarees: Ikat Textiles from Sambalpuri, Bargarh, Barpali and Sonepur Region of Orissa: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1998.
Das, Rudranil, A Craft Documentation on Dhonekali Sari. Ahmedabad: NID, 2002.
Desai, S., Jagdale, B., Narula, V. and Prajapati, H., Cotton Sarees of Bijapur & Dharwad: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1985.
Devi, Pria, The Masters Weavers. Mumbai: Tata Press, 1982.
Dhamija, Ram, Sixty Years of Writing on Arts & Crafts in India (from Roopa-lekha 1928-1988). New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 1988.
Dharmaraju, P, ’Angara and Koyyalagudem – Marketing in Handloom Cooperatives.’ Economic and Political Weekly. Aug. 2006.
Farooqui, Chinar, Chanderi: Design Directions for Handloom Weavers: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2005.
Garg, Vandana, A Craft Documentation of Kota Doria Fabrics. Ahmedabad: NID, 1992.
Gude, Venkata Ramana, Jamdani Saris of Venkatagiri: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1995.
Handicrafts India Year Book. 4th ed. New Delhi: Handicrafts India, 1990.
Jain, A., Guptey, A., Patel, N. and Agnihotri, S., Chanderi - A Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 2004.
Jain, Abhilasha and Das, Purvi, Maheshwar in Transit: A Craft Documentation of Woven Fabrics. Ahmedabad: NID, 2004.
Jain, Abhishek, Makhamal: Revival of Hand Weaving of Silk Velvets in India: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2007.
Janah, Sunil, The Tribals of India: Through the Lens of Sunil Janah, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2003.
Jawdekar, M., Khatbamna, K., Mandal, A., Nath, M., Patel, J. and Sharma, S., Eri-Culture and Textiles: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 2003.
Jhala, Uma De, Brocades of Ahmedabad: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1981.
Journal of Indian Textile History. 2nd ed. Ahmedabad: Calico Museum of Textiles, 1996.
Abhilasha, K, and Das, Purvi, Maheshwar in Transit: Documentation on Woven Fabrics. Ahmedabad: NID, 2004.
Katiyar, Vijai Singh, 'Indian Saris: Traditions - Perpectives - Design.' New Delhi: Wisdom Tree and NID, 2009.
Katiyar, Vijai Singh, ‘Home Textile Exports: Design Issues, Challenges and Opportunities.’ 7th Asian Textile Conference. The Textile Association. New Delhi. Dec. 2003
Katiyar, Vijai Singh, ’Innovation in Textiles: Emerging Indian Design Approaches.’ 2nd International Textile Conference. The North India Section of Textile Institute. New Delhi. Dec. 2004.
Katiyar, Vijai Singh, Need Assessment Survey Reports on Handloom Industry in Arni, Coimbatore, Rasipuram, Trichy, Thirubhuvanam, Kanchipuram and Vilandai Devangar. Ahmedabad: NID, 2004-07.
Koppar, D. H., Tribal Art of Dangs. Baroda: Department of Museums, 1971.
Krishna, Nanditha, Arts and Crafts of Tamil Nadu. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 1992.
Lynton, Linda, The Sari: Styles-Patterns-History-Techniques. London: Thames & Hudson, 1995.
Mathur, Nikhil, `Rehwa Maheshwari Handloom Weavers.’ Economic and Political Weekly. Aug. 2006.
Mehra, Priya R., Kumar, Tushar and Bannerji, Nivedita, West Bengal & Bihar: Saris of India. Comp. and ed. Rta Kapur Chisti. Ed. Martand Singh. New Delhi: Amr Vastra Kosh, 1995.
Mehta, Rustam J., The Handicrafts and Industrial Arts of India. Bombay: Taraporevala’s, 1960.
Mehta, Rustam J., Masterpieces of the Female Form in Indian Art. Bombay: Taraporevala’s, 1972.
Michael, R., and Parikh, M., Documentation of Jala Weaving techniques of Benares. Ahmedabad: NID, 1986.
Mookherjee, Ajit, Banaras Brocades. New Delhi: Crafts Museum.
Moti, Chandra and Doshi, Saryu, Treasures of Indian Textiles Calico Museum. New Delhi: Marg Publications, 1980.
Mulk, Raj, Textiles and Embroideries of India. New Delhi: Marg Publications, 1965.
Nayar, Shubhra, The Chettinad Saris - An Exploration: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2007.
Patel, Shefali, Sarees of Gadwal: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1982.
Phagre, Shruti, Jhini Bini - A New Direction for Maheshwari Handlooms: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2004.
Ramani, Shakuntala, Sari: The Kalakshetra Tradition. Chennai: Kalakshetra Foundation, 2002.
Riazuddin, Akhtar, History of Handicrafts: Pakistan-India. Islamabad: National Hijra Council.
Roy, Jasmine, DWIJA - Revisiting Jamdani Textiles: Diploma Project. Ahmedabad: NID, 2002.
Roy, Tina, Bomkai - Silk Saris from Western Orissa: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 2000.
Saraf, D. N., In the Journey of Craft Development 1941-1991. New Delhi: Sampark Publications Division, 1991.
Seemanthini, N., Annapurna, M., Syamasundari, B., Latha, T. and Uzramma, ’Marketing Handlooms.’ Economic and Political Weekly. Aug. 2006.
Shah, Shailaja, The Paithani Sari: Craft Documentation, Maharashtra. Ahmedabad: NID, 1997.
Singh, Gurdev, Non-Farm Rural Products: Marketing and Financing. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH, 1994.
Singh, Reena, Benaras Brocades: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1980.
Sisodia, Anuja Kumar, Baiga Saris of Dindori - Woven by the Panika: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 2006.
Somashekharan, Smitha, Neriyath Mundu Weaving of Kerala: Craft Documentation. Ahmedabad: NID, 1992.
Swarup, Shanti, 5000 Years of Arts and Crafts in India and Pakistan. Bombay: Taraporevala’s, 1968.
`The Tamil Nadu Tribes‘. Bulletin of the Madras Govt. Museum. 16.3 (2006).
Tantavi - A Breakthrough in Handloom Fabrics. New Delhi: NCTD, Ministry of Textiles.
The Timechart History of India. U.K.: Robert Federick Ltd., 2005.
Tripathi, Dwijendra and Jumani Jyoti, The Concise Oxford History of Indian Business. New Delhi: Oxford, 2007.
Watson, John Forbes, The Textile Manufacturers and the Costumes of the People of India. Varanasi: Indological Book House, 1982.