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Buying a Pochampally saree from India when you live abroad
In a real Pochampally the pattern is dyed into the yarn before a single thread is woven, which is why the edges of every motif look softly blurred.
Yes — you can buy pochampally 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
Pochampally ikat comes from a cluster of weaving villages in Telangana, among them Pochampally, Koyalgudam, Choutuppal, Siripuram and Puttapaka. The yarn is tied and resist-dyed in sections before it goes on the loom (the local name for the method is paagadu bandhu), so the design only appears as the cloth is woven. It is a registered Geographical Indication, Pochampally Ikat, held by the Pochampally Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society. Most of it is sold through weavers' co-operatives and craft platforms in India, and printed imitations are common.
Where to buy it
| Shop | What they are good for |
|---|---|
| iTokri | Handwoven Pochampally cotton sarees with the weaver named on the listing, and the length and weight stated. |
| GoSwadeshi | Pochampally silk sarees listed from the Pochampally Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society in Nalgonda district. |
| India Handmade | The Ministry of Textiles marketplace; Pochampally cotton sarees from a Pochampally producer company. |
| Shobitam | Pochampally silk sarees labelled Silk Mark certified on the listing. |
Co-operatives and weaver-led shops are set up for buyers in India. A free Indian address turns your order into the domestic sale they handle every day.
What to check before you order
- Look at the edges of the motifs. Because the yarn is dyed before weaving, the edges are softly blurred or feathered. Crisp, sharp edges point to a print.
- Turn it over. The design is woven in, so it shows on both faces. A print is clear on the front and faint on the back.
- Look for the Handloom Mark. The label carries a QR code that the Textiles Committee's app reads to show the weaver's details. On silk, a Silk Mark label confirms the silk is pure; it says nothing about the weaving.
- Ask whether it is cotton or silk. Pochampally is woven in both, and they wear, wash and cost very differently.
Weight, customs and getting it here intact
Weight
Light for a saree. Two handwoven cotton Pochampallys listed by one seller weigh about 445 g at 6.35 m and 545 g at 6.2 m. Silk is heavier, but one saree still sits comfortably in a low weight band.
Volume
Folds flat and dense, so volumetric weight rarely decides the price.
Customs
Declared as a cotton or silk saree at its real value. Duty and import tax are set by your country. Check what your destination allows.
Condition
We pack each saree in a sealed bag against damp. Sellers advise dry cleaning for silk; for cotton, dry clean or wash gently in cold water, and expect a little colour on the first wash.
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
How do I tell a real Pochampally from a printed copy?
Look at the edges of the motifs and the back of the cloth. Real ikat has softly blurred edges and the design shows on both faces; a print has sharp edges and a faint reverse. A Handloom Mark label with a working QR code is the strongest check.
Is Pochampally single or double ikat?
Both are woven in the cluster, and sources describe it differently. Ask the seller which it is; double ikat, where both warp and weft are dyed, takes longer and costs more.
Can I order from a Pochampally weavers co-operative from abroad?
Yes. Give the co-operative or shop your India Rabbit address as the delivery address and order as a domestic customer. We receive the saree, photograph it and forward it to you, combined with anything else you have waiting.
Will the colours run?
Handwoven cotton ikat can release a little colour in the first wash. Sellers suggest dry cleaning, or washing it on its own in cold water.
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