Buying Fabric in India

[temom]

I have a friends going to India, and they have asked if I would like to have fabric from India, as it would be less expensive than buying it here.
Does anyone have any experience with buying fabric in India?
What would you ask for? I can get 5 to 6 meters of something. What should I ask for?

[SmilieFace]

I'd imagine batiks are good there, as well as something with beads or other embellishment.

[kaitlinnegan]

Maybe some sari silk?

[DorothyL]

I's go for the sari silk too. But they do have some pretty cotton prints.
Dorothy

[LeapFrog Libby]

Silk gets my vote !

[HeyJudee]

Depends on what you are interested in making. I vote for batiks! I love them for quilts. And they can make nice tops, etc too.

[lendube]

Unless your friends are knowledgable about fabrics I'd play it safe and get some advice from someone who knows. Not sure where that would be but you might be able to research a bit online. I'd go for one batik and one silk length.

[temom]

Today when dd and I were at Wallyworld (they still have a fabric department), a young lady asked if the fabric was sold by the meter or yard. I asked where she was from, and since she was from India, I asked her opinion. Her mother was there, and she teaches sewing in India. She said that all the fabric was very nice, and a better quality than what was available at Wallyworld. She asked if I had a budget, and how much fabric I wanted, and I first thought 5 meters, and maybe $40.00 She declared that I could get very good fabric, any kind, for that.

So, since I can't decide, and my friend is leaving soon, I'm going to give them $40.00 and tell them to get anything that Isn't in the yellowish green color family, and something that doesn't wrinkly too badly. I'm sure with all their extended family, that someone who is knowledgable will be delighted to shop for me. These people are so incredibly sweet, and they are going to have traditional Indian clothes made for my kids. And if they are too busy to go fabric shopping, that will be fine too. They can just take the $40.00 and buy toys for the orphanage that they will be visiting. They are taking 2 or 3 suitcases of clothes and toys for the orphanage that they adopted their daughter from.

[bridesmom]

The clothing that one of my co-workers gets made in India is beautiful fabric, even her scrubs are beautiful! I'm sure you will be thrilled with your fabric, lucky you!

[lendube]

How fortunate for you, Theresa. Talk about right place at the right time! Sounds like you'll be delighted.