034. Patan Patola

Patan Patola are pure silk double ikat fabrics, whose gorgeous colours and striking patterns are the products of exquisite workmanship produced in the city of Patan, Gujarat predominantly by the members of Salvi Community. It is traced back to Vedic times and the term "Patola" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Pattu" meaning silk fabric.

Patan Patola are pre-industrial creations and are totally hand created and no machine is used. They are prepared on a special single loom operated by hand. The warp and weft are tied and dyed before they are woven.

Patan Patola have distinctive colour patterns and motifs including geometrical shapes, flowers, animals, leaves, etc and traditional designs that remain same on front and reverse sides permitting the sarees to be reversible with no change in the appearance. Geometric designs are such that the appearance is same regardless of which of the four corners it is worn from. Patan Patola have two pallavs (the end portions) with border and one side has golden jari patto.

The most common motifs in Patan Patola are parrots, elephants, plants, ladies, flowers, trellis, baskets, leaves, etc. These are used in many different permutations and combinations for the body, border and the pallav, making different designs. Patan Patola normally use red or vermilion as the background colour. The other colours that are used for dyeing along with red are yellow, orange, pink, green, blue, purple, white and black.

In the making of Patan Patola, no harsh chemicals or detergents are used but instead oil soaps and vegetable colours are used, which make Patan Patola softer than other silk fabrics/sarees available in the world, even though the Patan Patola are thicker than those available silk sarees. Durability of Patan Patola is about 300 years.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 09 September 2013

GI Tag Number                         : 232

Certificate Number                  : 195

Geographical Area                  : Gujarat

Special Cover Release Date   : 06 April 2021

Cancellation                             : Dandi 396 439

Type                                          : GI Tag Special Cover

Cover Identification Number  : GUJ/08/2021

This cover has QR Code which when scanned leads to Garvi Gurjari website which is Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation. Issued in a special presentation pack with 5 other covers related to GI Tag from Gujarat.

 Enlarged View of Illustration

Enlarged View of Cancellation

Image of the Postage Stamp issued by India Post is furnished below

Postage Stamp issued on 15 November 2002 

Handicrafts of India