The weaving and craft traditions behind some of India's most famous Geographical Indication tags.
India's handloom sector is one of the largest unorganised economic sectors, sustaining millions of livelihoods. Key traditions include Banarasi silk sarees (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh), Kanjeevaram silk (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu), Pashmina shawls (Kashmir, from the underfur of the Changthangi goat), Chikankari embroidery (Lucknow), and Ikat weaving (Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh — Pochampally Ikat is especially notable).
Distinctive craft forms include Madhubani/Mithila painting (Bihar), Warli painting (Maharashtra tribal art), Blue Pottery (Jaipur), Bidriware (metal inlay work from Bidar, Karnataka), and Channapatna toys (Karnataka).
Many of these traditions are registered as Geographical Indications — for example, Pochampally Ikat (Telangana) and Kondapalli toys and Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh) — protecting artisan communities' exclusive right to the name and helping preserve traditional livelihoods.
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