The craft

Jacquard weaving

In jacquard, the pattern isn’t printed on. It’s woven in, thread by thread.

Invented1804, by Joseph Marie Jacquard
Woven onHandlooms and powerlooms
Known forRaised, reversible patterns

How it works

A jacquard attachment lifts each warp thread separately, so complex patterns like florals, diamonds and geometrics can be woven straight into the cloth. In India it is used on handlooms in weaving towns like Varanasi, and on powerlooms.

Hand or machine?

We carry both. Handloom jacquard is slower to make and has a softer, more irregular texture. Powerloom jacquard is more even and easier on the budget. If it matters to you, ask us which one a piece is.

Care

Gentle wash in cold water. Dry in shade. Iron on the reverse.

The hands behind it

Meenakshi Devi

Jacquard Weaver · Varanasi · Panipat · Surat
Meenakshi appreciates the intricate beauty of woven patterns. She enjoys seeing detailed motifs emerge through carefully organised threads and believes that even the smallest design element can change the character of a textile.
Arvind Kumar

Hand Jacquard Weaver · Varanasi · Panipat · Surat
Arvind enjoys the technical side of weaving. He understands how individual threads work together to create elaborate patterns and takes pride in the precision required at every stage.
Suresh Patel

Machine Jacquard Technician · Varanasi · Panipat · Surat
Suresh works with modern jacquard machinery, where design meets technology. He enjoys translating intricate patterns into woven textiles while ensuring consistency and quality in the finished fabric.