Two cities, two textile traditions
Surat is one of India's largest centres for man-made fibre fabrics: polyester and viscose sarees, dress materials and kurtis, woven on powerlooms, dyed and printed in process houses and sold from hundreds of wholesale markets along Ring Road. Ahmedabad built its name on cotton mills in the late 1800s, earning the title "Manchester of the East", and today is known for denim, cotton fabric and its old wholesale cloth markets.
Before you plan a buying trip, see the Surat textile market list, the Ahmedabad market list and whether Surat markets are open today.