Ahmedabad is a rich multicultural tapestry, showcasing its diversity through the creative exaltations of its society. A river bank city located a mere 90kms from the Gulf of Cambay has made it a thriving center for trade, commerce and development of certain unique craft forms endemic to this region. By virtue of being the largest city in Gujarat and a province centrally located, makes Ahmedabad District the ideal connecting link between various regions across the state.
Ahmedabad is home to diverse communities comprising a rich plethora of society with each community weaving its own cultural module beautifying the crafts culture of the region.
Topographically watered by the River Sabarmati and a host of lakes, both natural and artificial has made the rich loamy soil an ideal cultivator of the plant fiber, cotton. Due to the resilient ingenuity of the people, indigo once growing wild began to be cultivated around the Sarkhej area in Ahmedabad and historically the region became to the largest Indigo producing area in the world. This coupled with the growth of the madder root and extensive weaving techniques made the region historically and commercially famous as a manufacturer of printed Calico and Trade cloths.
The enhancement of trade due to its strategic location on the River Sabarmati and the farsightedness of its resident, business community made Ahmedabad open its gates to a variety of guild based craftsmen and artisans. Due to its cosmopolitan image, Ahmedabad keeps being exposed to a variety of traditions forms from across the world, which in turn effect and positively change its own unique craft mediums. Stone and wood work vie for space, along with textiles, intricate metalwork, fascinating jewelry and bead work coupled with embroidery in this region.