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Buying a Patola saree from India when you live abroad
A Patan Patola can take months to tie and weave, and it looks almost the same on both sides. That is also the easiest way to spot one that is not.
Yes — you can buy patola saree from Indian shops even if they do not deliver to your country. India Rabbit gives you a free delivery address in India. You order to that address as an ordinary domestic customer, we receive and hold the parcel free for 30 days, combine it with anything else you buy, and forward the lot to you.
Why this is hard to buy where you are
Patola is Gujarat's ikat silk, and there are two quite different things sold under the name. Patan Patola is double ikat: warp and weft are tied and dyed separately, then woven on a slanted hand loom, and a single saree can take months, sometimes a year. It is a registered Geographical Indication, held by the Patan Double Ikat Patola Weavers Association, and the craft is associated with the Salvi families of Patan. Rajkot Patola, from Rajkot and Surendranagar districts, is single ikat, also registered, and far more affordable. Printed imitations sell for a fraction of either.
Where to buy it
| Shop | What they are good for |
|---|---|
| Shobitam | Lists Patan double ikat sarees attributed to Salvi artisans, labelled Silk Mark certified. |
| WeaverStory | Single ikat Patola with a Silk Mark badge, and the weight and length stated on the listing. |
| Garvi Gurjari | The Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation; its single ikat Patola is listed on the Hunar Setu marketplace. |
Patola workshops and state emporiums sell to buyers in India. A free Indian address makes your order a domestic one, and we photograph the saree on arrival so you can check it before it flies.
What to check before you order
- Know which one you are buying. Patan double ikat is priced in lakhs: listings we read ran from about Rs 80,000 to well over Rs 2 lakh. Rajkot single ikat is typically Rs 8,000 to 40,000. Printed Patola-style sarees sell for about Rs 3,000.
- Compare front and back. Patan double ikat looks virtually identical on both sides. Single ikat also shows on both sides, with feathered edges. A print is crisp on the face and faint on the reverse.
- Check the motifs. Patola patterns are geometric and symmetrical, with the slight softness at the edges that dyed yarn gives.
- Look for a Silk Mark label, which confirms the silk is pure, and ask the seller who wove it.
Weight, customs and getting it here intact
Weight
About half a kilo. Rajkot Patola sarees weigh roughly 460 to 520 g; one listing gives 494 g for 5.4 m.
Volume
Folds flat; volumetric weight rarely governs.
Customs
A Patan Patola carries a high declared value, so in most countries it will attract duty and import tax. We declare it at its real value; your country sets the rate. Check what your destination allows.
Condition
Silk is packed in its own sealed bag and kept away from anything scented. Sellers advise dry cleaning only, storing it in cotton or muslin, and keeping it out of long sun.
Where we send it
Pick your country for transit times and customs notes.
- the UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Bahrain
- the USA
- the UK
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Germany
- the Netherlands
- Italy
- Spain
- Belgium
- Austria
- Sweden
- Norway
- Sri Lanka
- the Philippines
- Japan
- France
- Nepal
- China
- Bangladesh
- South Africa
- Poland
- Nigeria
- Thailand
- Kenya
- Hong Kong
- Denmark
- Mauritius
- Indonesia
- Zambia
- Georgia
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- the Maldives
- Kazakhstan
- Ghana
- Finland
- Armenia
- All destinations
Questions
What is the difference between Patan Patola and Rajkot Patola?
Patan Patola is double ikat, with both warp and weft dyed before weaving; it takes months and is priced in lakhs. Rajkot Patola is single ikat, made in Rajkot and Surendranagar districts, and costs a fraction of that. Both are registered Geographical Indications.
How can I tell a real Patola from a print?
Look at the reverse. Woven ikat shows the design on both sides; a print is faint on the back. A Patan double ikat looks almost identical on both faces. A price far below the ranges above is the other giveaway.
Will I pay duty on a Patan Patola?
In most countries, yes, because of its value. We declare it at its real value, and the duty and tax are charged by your country when it arrives.
Can I see the saree before you ship it?
Yes. We photograph every parcel when it arrives, so you can check the saree while it is still in India.
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