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Extreme softness, vivid colors and translucent texture characterize the silk weaving of India.

Varanasi, an important silk weaving center is famous not only for its brocade or kinkab (superb weaving in gold and silver), but also for the wide variety of techniques and styles.

The brocades are distinguished by apt poetic names like chand tara (moon and star), dhupchhaon (sunshine and shade), mazchar (ripples of silver), morgalla (peacock's neck), bulbul chasm (nightingale's eyes).

Varanasi is also famous for the tanchoi saree, which resembles a fine miniature. Its origin can be traced to three Indian Parsi brothers by the name of Choi. In tanchoi sarees the designs are always floral with interspersing of birds.

Mubarakpur, is one of the important silk weaving centers in the area.

Jamdani or 'figured Muslim' traditionally woven in Dacca is now the specialty of Tanda in Faizabad. The cotton fabrics is brocaded with zari threads.

Each region has its typical technical skills and variations and the silk of Mysore, Kanchipuram, Murshidabad and Kashmir are as well known as the cotton sarees of Bengal or the cotton and silk maheshwaris of Madhya Pradesh.

The famous ikat technique is used in the Patolas of Gujarat and Orissa.

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