A Solapur chaddar, is a cotton blanket made in the Solapur city of the Indian state of Maharashtra.These blankets are popular in India where they are manufactured, previously by hand loom but now by Jacquard machine and are known for their unique design and durability. The Solapuri chaddars was given the Geographical Indication (GI) status during 2005 in the category of Handloom / Textile. Solapuri chaddars - an overview Solapur is known for its textile industry and is the known as “Manchester of Maharashtra” (for textiles) . The handloom weaving industry in Solapur has a historical background dating back to the Peshwas. They have been manufactured by Padmashali weavers from South India since their presence in Solapur in the 1950s. Many companies manufacture chaddars in Solapur district. Apart from Maharashtra, Solapuri Chaddar has demand in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan within India, while it also has demand in United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, South Africa, United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Product Unique Features Made from pure cotton Known for durability & absorbency Distinct bold geometric / jacquard patterns,vibrant colors No loose threads → tightly woven finish→ long-lasting Reversible: Same design visible on both sides Manufacturing Process Yarn preparation (cotton spinning) Dyeing (bright, fast colors). Various types of dyes are used for dyeing the yarn. For Chaddars Napthols, Direct dyes, Vat Dyes are used. While for terry towel dyes like Reactive, Vat & Direct Dyes are used. And then for Optical whitening, optical whiteners are used as per the requirement. Warping & setting loom Weaving (Jacquard loom) → creates patterns Finishing (cutting, folding) Weaving Technique Produced on jacquard looms Designs woven directly (not printed) Strong interlocking weave → long-lasting Related resources List of GIs in India GI application of Solapuri chaddars