Credits
The cloth and objects in each story are drawn in code. The photographs are real, taken by the people named below and shared under open licences, most on Wikimedia Commons; each links to the page it was published on, where the full licence terms are given. Some crafts with no photograph yet show AI-generated illustrations instead (FLUX.1 Krea via Hugging Face), marked as such in the story; they are not photographs and are not listed here.
Map data: state and union territory boundaries from the DataMeet India community, CC BY 4.0.
Photographs (162)
Machilipatnam Kalamkari, Andhra Pradesh
Kalamkari handkerchief depicting Andhra Pradesh
Sathishkagitha, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Srikalahasti Kalamkari, Andhra Pradesh
Kalamkari painting
Anilbhardwajnoida, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Srikalahasti Kalamkari, Andhra Pradesh
KALAMKARI HAND PAINTED CLOTH SRIKALAHASTI AP - panoramio
rajaraman sundaram, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Cane and bamboo craft, Arunachal Pradesh
"Nadang" The Adi Basket
Standupstok, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mishmi weaving, Arunachal Pradesh
An Idu-Mishmi women weaving a traditional designed coat on her back strap loin loom. RIWATCH
Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritage, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0










Madhubani painting, Bihar
Asha Jha Madhubani Painting Bihar Artist
Alok Kriti, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Madhubani painting, Bihar
Indian train decorated with Madhubani painting
Karan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sikki grass craft, Bihar
Sikki Grass Craft by artisan Nazda Khatun of Bihar 01
Goutam1962, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sikki grass craft, Bihar
Sikki Grass Craft by artisan Nazda Khatun of Bihar 06
Goutam1962, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sikki grass craft, Bihar
Sikki Grass Craft by artisan Nazda Khatun of Bihar 11
Goutam1962, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sikki grass craft, Bihar
Sikki Grass Craft by artisan Nazda Khatun of Bihar 14
Goutam1962, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bamboo craft, Chhattisgarh
Woven bamboo winnowing trays and baskets at a weekly market in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh
ILO Asia-Pacific (Vipul Sangoi), via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Bastar cotton handloom, Chhattisgarh
COTTON SHAWL FROM BASTAR, CHHATISGARH
RubyGoes, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Bastar dhokra, Chhattisgarh
Dokra from tribes of Bastar DSCN1172 03
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bastar dhokra, Chhattisgarh
Dokra from tribes of Bastar DSCN1172 01
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kosa silk, Chhattisgarh
Tussar (kosa) silk being reeled at a training centre in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh
ILO Asia-Pacific (Vipul Sangoi), via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Delhi zardozi, Delhi
Wedding outfit from Delhi, India, Honolulu Museum of Art, 2016-43-01a-c
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Delhi zardozi, Delhi
John Lockwood Kipling - Zardozi workers in Delhi 2007BM7334 jpg l
John Lockwood Kipling, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Bandhani, Gujarat
Bandhani Dupatta (5788125979)
goblinbox_(queen_of_ad_hoc_bento), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Kutch embroidery, Gujarat
Embroidered hanging, Kutch (western India
AnonymousUnknown author, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Kutch embroidery, Gujarat
Hanging from India, Gujarat, Kutch, Honolulu Museum of Art 2015-12-01
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Mashru, Gujarat
Mashru, satin-woven silk on cotton in red and yellow stripes, Gujarat, 18th century (Knoxville Museum of Art)
Knoxville Museum of Art, via Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Mashru, Gujarat
Mashru in green and cream stripes, Gujarat, early 19th century (Knoxville Museum of Art)
Knoxville Museum of Art, via Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Mashru, Gujarat
India, Surat, 19th - early 20th century - Fragment (Mashru- Textile made for Muslim Market) - 1925.497 - Cleveland Museum of Art
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Mata ni Pachedi, Gujarat
block printed painted; rows figures
Minneapolis Institute of Art, via rawpixel, CC0
Patan Patola, Gujarat
Gujarat patola
Unknown authorUnknown author, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Patan Patola, Gujarat
Woman's Wedding Sari LACMA M.71.37.2 (1 of 2)
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Patan Patola, Gujarat
Gujarat patola 1725-1800
Unknown Gujarati weaver. Photo by owner?, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Patan Patola, Gujarat
Antique Patan Patola Double Ikat Trade Textile courtesy Wovensouls Collection, Singapore
Jainamishra, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rogan art, Gujarat
Rogan-art-Tree-of-Life-Abdul-Gafur-Khatri-29-12-2013
Wiki-uk, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rogan art, Gujarat
Ashish shantilal kansara rogan art 2
Professorofcraft, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bagh and phulkari, Haryana
Hanging (AM 1961.176-1)
Unknown authorUnknown author, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Bagh and phulkari, Haryana
Hanging (AM 1961.176-2)
Unknown authorUnknown author, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Chamba rumal, Himachal Pradesh
Chamba Rumal with the Mahavidyas LACMA M.80.4
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Chamba rumal, Himachal Pradesh
Chamba Rumal with Scenes of Gopis Adoring Krishna LACMA M.71.1.40
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Chamba rumal, Himachal Pradesh
19th Century Chamba Rumal
Brahmavadini, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Himachali topi, Himachal Pradesh
Himachali people covered in holi colours, dancing. 01
Piyush Choudhary, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pattu weaving, Himachal Pradesh
Kullvi Pattu Weaving in Kullu district,1
Rajani Gairshail, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattu weaving, Himachal Pradesh
Kullvi Pattu Weaving in Kullu district,2
Rajani Gairshail, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattu weaving, Himachal Pradesh
Kullvi Pattu Weaving in Kullu district,5
Rajani Gairshail, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattu weaving, Himachal Pradesh
Kullvi Pattu Weaving in Kullu district,3
Rajani Gairshail, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kani shawl, Jammu and Kashmir
Kani Jamawar (Fabric Jama Coat
Art Institute of Chicago, via rawpixel, CC0
Pashmina, Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmiri pashmina weaver in Srinagar
AG, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sohrai and Khovar painting, Jharkhand
Sohrai painting, Jharkhand
Shreyashprashu, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sohrai and Khovar painting, Jharkhand
A house with Sohrai paintings at Isko Village, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, India
Kingshuk Mondal, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tussar silk, Jharkhand
Tussar insects weaving up picture
Durga Soren, India, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0











Ladakh pashmina, Ladakh
India - Ladakh - Trekking - 077 - sending out the herds in the monring (3896556490)
McKay Savage from London, UK, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Ladakh pashmina, Ladakh
Processing of pashmina wool, Leh
Yann Forget, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Thigma tie-dye, Ladakh
Sul-ma, woman’s woollen dress (detail), Ladakh, late 19th-early 20th century
Bill Liske Collection. Made by unknown Ladakh weavers, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain 
Bagh print, Madhya Pradesh
A traditional Bagh Print craftsman Mohammed Bilal Khatri from Bagh, Madhya Pradesh, at Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2015
Bsfs, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bagh print, Madhya Pradesh
Traditional Bagh hand block print master craftsman-artisan-artist Mohammed Bilal Khatri, Madhya Pradesh, India
Bsfs, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bagh print, Madhya Pradesh
Royal Bagh Print
Royal Bagh Print Wiki, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh
Chanderi Silk Sari outside a village home in Pranpur.
India Untravelled, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Maheshwari, Madhya Pradesh
Handloom weaver in Maheshwar fort, Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh
Eskay001, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Himroo, Maharashtra
Himroo silk shawl (both sides)
RubyGoes from Sydney, Australia, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Kolhapuri chappal, Maharashtra
Kolhapuri Chappals in roadside shop in Kolhapur2
सुबोध कुलकर्णी, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kolhapuri chappal, Maharashtra
Kolhapuri Chappals in roadside shop in Kolhapur1
सुबोध कुलकर्णी, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kolhapuri chappal, Maharashtra
Kolhapuri Chappals in roadside shop in Kolhapur3
सुबोध कुलकर्णी, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Paithani, Maharashtra
Paithani Bridal Sari LACMA M.75.4.23 (1 of 2)
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Paithani, Maharashtra
Paithani Bridal Sari LACMA M.75.4.23 (2 of 2)
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Warli painting, Maharashtra
Warli art at Borivali Stn 03
PratishKhedekar, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Warli painting, Maharashtra
Warli art on a house wall at Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Blackstardust, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Warli painting, Maharashtra
Warli art at Borivali Stn 01
PratishKhedekar, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Khasi jainsem weaving, Meghalaya
Jein (jainsem)
kingkhap, via kingkhap.wordpress.com, CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 India
Hmaram, Mizoram
Mizo girls in Mizo traditional dress
Byronkhiangte, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0



Pattachitra, Odisha
Artist with Odisha Pattachitra DSCN1052 01
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattachitra, Odisha
Odisha Pattachitra DSCN1052 04
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattachitra, Odisha
Pattachitra artist at work in Odisha, India
Euphoric Captures, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pattachitra, Odisha
Mathura Vijay - Pattachitra of Odisha
Rajeshjena453, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0


Sambalpuri ikat, Odisha
Sambalpuri Ikat weaving loom (Tanta) from Odisha
Subhashish Panigrahi, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sambalpuri ikat, Odisha
Sambalpuri Double Ikat Saree
Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Bagh, Punjab
A Bagh, fully embroidered to cover the base cloth
Chiswick Chap, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Phulkari, Punjab
Hand embroidered Phulkari from Punjab, 2015
Sheebamadanloewinger, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Phulkari, Punjab
A Phulkari with traditional flower pattern on unworked background
Chiswick Chap, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Phulkari, Punjab
Phulkari from Punjab, India, 20th century, khadi, silk, plain weave, embroidery, Honolulu Museum of Art
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Kota Doria, Rajasthan
Genuine handloom kota doria masterpiece
Victoria Singh, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sanganeri print, Rajasthan
An artisan carving a wooden block for Sanganeri hand-block printing, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Sumit photography, via Pexels, Pexels License
Thangka painting, Sikkim
Thangka at Ralang Monastery sikkim
Prof Ranga Sai, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kanchipuram silk, Tamil Nadu
Silk Sari Weaving at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
McKay Savage, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Kanchipuram silk, Tamil Nadu
Complicated hand-loom for silk weaving, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
McKay Savage, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Kanchipuram silk, Tamil Nadu
Silk Handloom at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Arupparia, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Toda embroidery, Tamil Nadu
Toda man wearing a hawl made of Toda embroidery
The Madras School of Arts, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Toda embroidery, Tamil Nadu
Toda men women 1871
Unknown photographer from the Madras School of Arts, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Toda embroidery, Tamil Nadu
Toda embroidery and poothkuli shawls, National Crafts Museum, New Delhi
Niranjan Ramamurthy, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pochampally ikat, Telangana
# 065 'Weaving' - Women in Public Places
Rajesh_India, via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Pochampally ikat, Telangana
B1-04 (B&W) Pochampally Thread's
Rajesh_India, via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Pochampally ikat, Telangana
Pochampalli Ikat saree
Ramkumar Kalyani, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rignai, Tripura
Lady weaving traditional garment Rignai in Gandacherra Dhalai Tripura India
Piyushozarde, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rignai, Tripura
Girl from Reang Tribe of Tripura ready for Hojagiri dance wearing Rignai DSCN1230
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Risa, Tripura
A tripuri girl wearing Rigwnai and Risa
Cecilia Debbarma, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Risa, Tripura
This is a handwoven Risa cloth, a traditional indigenous textile from Tripura, India, used as a female upper garment, headgear, or stole
পাপৰি বৰা, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Banarasi brocade, Uttar Pradesh
'Sari' from Varanasi (north-central India), silk and gold-wrapped silk yarn with supplementary weft brocade
Unknown authorUnknown author, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Lucknow chikankari, Uttar Pradesh
Chikan embroidery, Lucknow
Joey Berzowska, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Lucknow chikankari, Uttar Pradesh
Chikan embroidery from the back, Lucknow
Joey Berzowska, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Zardozi, Uttar Pradesh
Zardozi Art of Farrukhabad
Mohammad Aqib Khan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Zardozi, Uttar Pradesh
Close Shot of the Zardozi (Zardouzi) Embroidery Cushion Covers
Zarood, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baluchari, West Bengal
Baluchari saree of Bishnupur DSC06029
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Baluchari, West Bengal
Baluchari saree of Bishnupur DSC06031
Sumita Roy Dutta, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kantha, West Bengal
Kantha (bed cover), West BengalHonolulu Museum of Art 3928.1
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Kantha, West Bengal
Victoria Memorial Kolkata - Kantha Stitch
Amit Sen, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Murshidabad silk, West Bengal
Balucar Buttidar Sari LACMA M.89.14
Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain- Murshidabad silk, West Bengal
Sari from Murshidabad, India, Honolulu Museum of Art, accession 8730.1
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Murshidabad silk, West Bengal
Sari from Murshidabad, India, Honolulu Museum of Art 3933.1
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Murshidabad silk, West Bengal
Sari from Murshidabad, India, Honolulu Museum of Art 5648.1
Hiart, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0