Indian textiles are known for their fine textures, delicate patterns and their lustrous and vibrant colors throughout the ages. They were coveted both in India and abroad. Legendary Indian muslins were the craze among the aristocratic ladies of the Roman Empire. The printed cotton from Gujarat were considered precious enough to be buried with the dead among the Egyptians, as is evident from the excavated examples from Fostat. The Ikat of Gujarat was held in high esteem in South East Asian countries.

References of textile workshops maintained by the Indian rulers are found from the Mauryan Period (4th Cent. B.C.) which continued in Mughal Period (16th to 19th Cent. A.D.). Skilled weavers were employed who prepared textiles for them, and were awarded for their skill. Every region had its specialty. Woolen shawls of Kashmir, printed cotton, tie and dye fabrics from Gujarat and Rajasthan, patterned muslin (Jamadani) from Dacca and Tanda, silk brocades from Deccan, Gujarat and U.P. (Banaras) were known for their quality and beauty. Subsequently, they became the major trade attraction too, particularly among the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English traders. The popularity of the Indian textiles promoted the European traders to produce imitation of these textiles in their own country. Thus Kashmiri shawls were made in a Scottish village called Paisley and Gujarati cotton prints were reproduced in the villages of South France. Often the Indian textiles manufacturers were asked to change form and pattern to suit the export market but there was always an indigenous market which never got tired of traditional Indian colors and patterns repeated from centuries.

This gallery represents the different aspects of Indian textile. The four major categories of fabrics i.e. cotton, silk, wool and mixed fabric are exhibited here. They are further classified on the basic of the technique of its surface decoration. The major pattern producing techniques are as follows: