Indiahandmade Blog

A Brief History of Gifting: Celebrating with Purpose

The act of gifting has long served as a symbol of affection, celebration, and connection, especially during important life events like birthdays. In ancient cultures across the globe, including in India, gifts for children held deep symbolic value, often given during milestones to convey blessings, good luck, or the promise of a prosperous future. From hand-carved toys in rural villages to religious talismans in royal households, gifts were rarely transactional. Instead, they reflected cultural traditions, community ties, and personal craftsmanship.

In India, gifts for children often carried spiritual and emotional significance. During festivals or birthdays, family elders would present children with items made from natural

Indian summers can be beautiful but merciless. But here’s good news—you don’t need to compromise on style to stay cool. Ethnic wear dresses are no longer about heavy silks and luxurious brocades. Now, you will see light, airy and trendy pieces that won’t let the heat get to you yet make a statement. From loose kurtis to hand-block printed sarees, handmade ethnic wear dresses are changing with each new season.

This summer, let your clothes speak for themselves with sophisticated handmade ethnic wear dresses. And here’s the catch. You can buy handmade dresses directly from artisans and weavers at Indiahandmade.com, an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles to rejoice in Indian weavers’ and artisans’ skills. Now, let’s get to 15 popular

Gifting a friend something unique? Great. Browsing generic products online? Not-so-great.

In 2025, most individuals are moving away from bland, generic gifts. Why? Because your friend isn’t “someone”. They’re the ones who bailed you out at work, showed up during your worst times and sent you reels consistently. They need something better than a coffee mug with “Best Friend Ever” embedded on it in Comic Sans.

That’s where handmade gifts come in. Each gift comes with a story — not only of the artisan who made it but also of the culture it embodies. Whether it’s an intricately woven scarf, a bamboo light or a quirky Warli-art necklace, these gifts are meaningful, eco-friendly and memorable. And the icing on the cake is that platforms like Indiahandmade.com have made finding

Birthdays are milestone moments in everyone’s life. They make us celebrate life, love and relationships. In the age of mass-produced products, nothing makes a difference like a handmade gift. Whether it is the texture of handloom fabrics or the intricacy of handicraft products, handmade gifts have a story to tell. They convey emotion, effort and uniqueness.

If you’re looking for ideas on what to give your loved ones this year, it’s time to break free from the norm. Ditch factory-produced items and discover the beauty of handmade birthday gifts. With online stores such as Indiahandmade.com, it has become easy to purchase handmade gifts online from artisans all over India. From green home decor to wearable art, the options are limitless.

India, as ancient as it is in its crafts and textiles heritage, is a treasure trove of such heartfelt gifting choices. Gifting is not just about material exchange. It is about emotions, memories and human bonds. And nothing conveys love and concern as strongly as a handmade gift. Whether it’s a birthday or anniversary, festival or milestone, a handcrafted gift conveys warmth that no factory-produced item can ever match.

Indiahandmade is an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, provides genuine handmade gifts designed by master artisans directly to your doorstep. Let’s now discover the 15 meaningful handmade

The Timeless Tradition of Corporate Gifting

The concept of gifting as a token of goodwill, respect, and gratitude dates back centuries. In ancient civilizations—from Egypt to Mesopotamia—gifts were offered as symbols of alliance, friendship, and loyalty. In India, the practice of exchanging gifts in business settings has deep cultural roots, often tied to festivals like Diwali, Holi, or the New Year. Over time, this tradition evolved into a strategic aspect of diplomacy, trade, and corporate relationship building. Kings and merchants alike exchanged symbolic gifts to foster ties, resolve conflicts, or gain favor—laying the foundation for what we now understand as corporate gifting.

In today’s globalized world, corporate gifting has transcended mere formalities, becoming a key

There has been a change in how people perceive fashion over the last few years. People are now opting for ethical, sustainable and conscious fashion rather than speedy and mass-made clothes. Whether to opt for handmade or powerloom clothing is now a widely debated topic. It’s no longer just clothes—it’s now about culture, identity and responsibility.

India boasts a glorious legacy of hand-tailored clothes. From Kanjeevaram to Chikankari, from Pashmina to Bandhani, each province has a tale to tell through its fabrics. On the contrary, powerloom products cater to a fast-paced market. They are fast, inexpensive and readily accessible.

So, are handmade and powerloom garments different? Is one superior to the other in terms of quality and sustainability? Let’s find out.

Understanding

A Rich Heritage Woven in Print

The art of block printing is one of the most enduring and celebrated textile traditions in the Indian subcontinent. With origins dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2500 BCE, this technique involves intricately carved wooden blocks used to stamp patterns on fabrics. Over the centuries, block printing evolved regionally, giving rise to iconic styles like the vivid Sanganeri and Bagru prints of Rajasthan, the geometric Ajrakh of Gujarat, and the earthy, narrative-rich Kalamkari of Andhra Pradesh. Each region’s unique motifs, color schemes, and symbols tell stories of local myths, daily life, flora and fauna, or seasonal festivals.

Historically, block-printed fabrics were more than just garments—they were visual expressions of identity,

Two years ago, a silent revolution was initiated in the core of India’s digital arena—one that sought to bring back centuries-old traditions, livelihood support and handcrafted heritage to the fingertips of contemporary consumers. Indiahandmade, a flagship project of the Ministry of Textiles, was launched with the single-minded vision of empowering artisans and weavers across the nation. Designed and developed by Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Indiahandmade.com is not merely an e-commerce site—it is a national mission to conserve, promote and drive India’s rich handloom and handicraft

A Journey Through Time: Cotton in the Indian Subcontinent

The story of cotton in India is as old as civilization itself. The Indus Valley Civilization (circa 3000 BCE) is credited with some of the earliest known uses of cotton in human history. Archaeological finds from sites like Mohenjo-Daro have revealed fragments of cotton fibers, indicating that ancient Indians were spinning, weaving, and wearing cotton garments over 5,000 years ago.

Cotton was not just a fabric—it was a cornerstone of Indian culture and economy. Ancient texts and travelers’ accounts often mention the fine cotton textiles produced in regions like Bengal, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. Indian cotton was highly sought after by ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Rome, and later by traders from