What is Bandhani fabric? Is it a fabric type or a printing technique?

Bandhani (or Bandhej) is a traditional Indian tie-dye technique — it is a print and dyeing method, not a fabric type. The word comes from "bandh" (to tie). Small portions of fabric are tied tightly with thread before dyeing, creating distinctive small circular dots arranged in patterns.

Origin: Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner) and Gujarat (Kutch, Jamnagar, Bhuj). GI-tagged product from both states.

Fabrics used for Bandhani: Cotton, silk, georgette, chiffon, and crepe. Silk bandhani is the most premium; cotton bandhani is the most common wholesale product.

In wholesale market: Digital-printed bandhani (not real tie-dye) is widely sold at lower prices. Real handcrafted bandhani commands significantly higher prices and is sold in specialty stores. Most Surat wholesale bandhani is digital print on georgette or cotton.