• India has a rich textile tradition.Portrait of a woman in sari image by netzz from Fotolia.com
  
  India's textile tradition is a rich and ancient one that dates back to the Indus Valley civilization. The availability of textiles differ from one location to the other and are affected by such factors as availability of raw materials, local culture, social customs and climate. The raw materials used in making the textiles include silk, wool, jute and cotton.
  
  

Silk

• Silk is produced by the silk worm.silk 4 image by jbattx from Fotolia.com
  
  India is the world's second-largest producer of silk. It produces about 18 percent of the world's silk. Silk is produced by the silkworm as it spins around its cocoon. Different species of silkworm produce the five major varieties of silk available in India. These are Eri silk, Oak Tasar silk, Muga silk, Mulberry silk and Tasar silk. Eri silk, also known as Errandi silk, is produced by the silk worm Philosamia ricini, which feeds primarily on castor leaves. Mulberry silk is produced by Bombyx mori, which feeds on the mulberry plant. Muga silk, which is produced by the silk worm Antheraea assamenis, is usually used in making saris because of its high quality.
  
  

Cotton

• Cotton is produced by the cotton plant.cotton image by arklite06 from Fotolia.com
  
  India produces cotton, which is usually woven and dyed. There are 23 species of cotton plants in India, used to make things like salwars, saris, napkins and summer wear. Some regions of India, such as West Bengal, produce popular cotton textile such as jamdani and Tangail cotton, while Mahya Pradesh uses the Paithani technique to produce Chanderi cotton and Maheshwari saris.
  
  

Wool

• Wool is also produced from the hair of camels, goats and sheep.wool image by iChip from Fotolia.com
  
  The Indian regions that produce wool, such as the North and North Eastern states, do so mainly because of geography. For instance, Kashmir shawls and Pashmina are made from the inner fleece of wild goats. During the summer, the goats shed this inner fleece, which is then collected. Such goats are found in these hilly and alpine regions. Wool is also produced from the hair of camels and sheep. It often has a creamy white color, but some sheep produce brown, black and gray wool.
  
  

Kerala Fabrics

• Kerala is a state in India that has a unique textile tradition. The Kerala sari is made from unbleached cotton and is usually hand woven. Kerala also makes a cloth called kora, which is an unbleached cotton handloom crepe. The Kasaragod saris are produced by hand with high quality yarn. Chennamangalam is another district that produces a type of textile known as chennamangalam handlooms using fine weaving. The region also produces thorzu, Kavani, settu mundu and dhothies.