Achinova Journal

Fabric Guides

Guides to Indian fabrics, weaves and prints – silk, georgette, chiffon, cotton and more.

Fabric Guides

Weaves, Prints and Embroidery Explained: Brocade, Ikat, Block Print and More

A plain-English glossary of the weaves, prints and embellishments you will see in Indian clothing.

Fabric Guides

How genuine Patan patola is made, how to recognise it, and what a patola-print saree really is.

Fabric Guides

From Varanasi to Kanchipuram, Surat to Sambalpur - a quick guide to where India's best-known cloth comes from.

Fabric Guides

What tussar silk is, where it comes from, why it looks the way it does, and how to style and care for it.

Fabric Guides

Both are light and flowing, but they feel and drape differently. A simple side-by-side comparison.

Fabric Guides

A practical guide to the main kinds of cotton and which one to pick for summer, monsoon and festive wear.

Fabric Guides

What makes a Banarasi saree special, how brocade and zari work, and how to tell handloom from Banarasi-style.