Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur in Bihar, known locally as the "Silk City," is the long-standing centre for Bhagalpuri (tussar) silk weaving. The handloom families of Bhagalpur have woven GI‑tagged Bhagalpuri tussar (kosa) since around 1800, producing a naturally textured, earthy silk used in saris, scarves and furnishing that slow‑fashion brands value for its matte luxury.

Bhagalpur's cluster weaves both pure tussar and tussar blends — artisans in Bhagalpur combine tussar with cotton or silk yarns to create distinctive textures and hand-feel. The product range from Bhagalpur is therefore not only traditional sari lengths but also shirting cloth, stoles and upholstery lengths that use the same Bhagalpuri tussar identity.

How Bhagalpur makes its tussar: craft steps and unit types

In Bhagalpur, Bihar, production is driven by handloom families who handle warping, handloom weaving and finishing on village and small‑town handlooms; these units are the primary carriers of the GI‑tagged Bhagalpuri tussar craft. Raw tussar reeling and throwing, small dyeing units and independent preparatory workshops supply yarn and processed warps into the Bhagalpur weaving households, while local finishers apply softening or steam finishes to retain the characteristic matte texture of Bhagalpuri fabrics.

Real order economics you can expect from Bhagalpur

Price and order parameters quoted from Bhagalpur are concrete: Tussar Silk Fabric from Bhagalpur sells on FOB terms in the range of USD 6.00–22.00 per metre, with minimum order quantities starting from 100 metres and standard lead times running 35–55 days. Public records show no export houses recorded in or near Bhagalpur, so buyers should anticipate arranging export documentation through a freight forwarder in Patna or a port agent in Kolkata when purchasing Bhagalpuri tussar.

Specification checklist for buying Bhagalpuri tussar

When placing a Bhagalpuri tussar order from Bhagalpur, specify the following clearly so weavers and handloom families deliver what you need:

• Fabric name and provenance: state "GI‑tagged Bhagalpuri tussar" so the Bhagalpur origin is explicit.
• Yarn composition and blend ratio: e.g., 100% tussar or tussar blended with 30% cotton — Bhagalpur weavers blend for matte luxury.
• Yarn count and twist: give cotton/silk counts or Ne/tex equivalents to match handloom set‑up in Bhagalpur.
• Weave and repeat: plain, twill, dobby or jacquard repeat details for Bhagalpur looms.
• Width, selvedge and finishing: required finished width, secure selvedge and soft steam finish used by Bhagalpur finishers.
• Colour fastness and dye type: specify acceptable fastness levels and dye chemistry if you need reactive or vat dyes for Bhagalpur dyehouses.
• Samples and P‑P approval: request a handloom strike‑off or pre‑production sample from the Bhagalpur workshop before bulk production.

How the Bhagalpur cluster helps — and where you need to manage risk

Bhagalpur's network of handloom families gives buyers scope for small‑batch runs and weave customisation that align with niche or slow‑fashion assortments using Bhagalpuri tussar. At the same time, the same Bhagalpur structure creates variability: lead times of 35–55 days and the USD 6.00–22.00 FOB band reflect manual processes and the seasonal supply dynamics of tussar. Because public records list no export houses in Bhagalpur, buyers should plan for export coordination through Patna or Kolkata and include clear quality inspection points for Bhagalpur deliveries.