Category: Cushion Covers

Cushion covers from India: where every craft has a home

If you are looking to import cushion covers from India, the first thing we usually tell buyers is that “Indian cushion covers” is not one product. India has a different textile tradition in almost every state, and each one gives a cushion a completely different look, feel and price. A natural-dye Ajrakh print from Kutch has very little in common with a Zardozi cover from Lucknow, apart from the zip at the bottom.

So rather than send you a long list, we like to start with two simple questions. Do you have a material or a craft in mind? Or are you led more by the look, the colours and the price point you need on the shelf? Either answer helps us guide you to the right makers, and you will find both routes laid out below.

The crafts behind our cushion covers

Most of the cushion covers we supply fall into four families. Knowing which family suits your customers makes the rest of the buying decision much easier.

Hand block prints with natural dyes

Block printing is the most affordable way into authentic Indian craft. Printers carve designs into teak blocks and press them by hand, often using natural dyes such as indigo, madder and iron black. Look at our Ajrakh block print cushion covers from Kutch, Bagru Dabu prints from Rajasthan and Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh. Small shifts in registration and shade are part of the charm, and we always suggest buyers say so on the swing tag.

Resist dyeing

Here the pattern comes from protecting parts of the cloth before it meets the dye. Shibori is folded and clamped, Bandhani is tied in thousands of tiny dots, Leheriya is rolled into waves and batik uses wax. Indigo Shibori is one of the easiest Indian looks to place in a Scandinavian or Japandi range.

Hand embroidery

Embroidered covers take longer and cost more, but they are the pieces customers stop and touch. Kantha gives a soft rippled texture, Chikankari is white on white, Phulkari and Kutch mirror work are bright and festive, Kashmiri crewel is woolly and traditional, and Zardozi uses metallic thread for a regal finish. These are worked by individual artisans, so we can often create a few signature pieces inside a larger order.

Handloom and woven

When the pattern is in the weave, it shows on both sides and never fades. Pochampally Ikat, Banarasi brocade, Mashru, Tussar silk and cotton jacquard all belong here. Woven covers are a good choice for hotels and busy family homes because they stand up to repeated washing.

Sizes, fabrics and finishing

Our standard sizes are 16 x 16, 18 x 18 and 20 x 20 inches, with 12 x 20 inch lumbar covers in most crafts. Fabrics range from cotton and cotton-linen to silk, cotton velvet and wool embroidery on cotton duck. Covers are finished with a concealed zip or an envelope back, and we can supply them as covers only or with polyfill or feather inserts. If you want a plain back panel to manage cost, that is an easy change on most designs.

Colours: what is easy and what takes time

We will be honest about this because it saves everyone time later. Indian dyers are wonderful with indigo, madder red, mustard, rust and the bright colours of India. Some colours that Western buyers love, such as slate, mushroom grey, greige, lavender grey and certain muted earth tones, are not always available as ready fabric and need to be dyed specially. They are absolutely possible. They just need a minimum quantity and a little time to get the shade right. If you choose from an existing colour range, we manage everything for you.

Minimum order quantities for handmade cushion covers

Because these are handmade, minimums are set per design and colour and are generally modest. Printed covers can run in larger numbers quickly, while embroidered and handloom pieces are made in smaller batches by artisan groups. Many of our buyers start with a mixed order of three to five crafts, then reorder the designs that sell. Smaller signature pieces can usually be folded into a larger order without much difficulty.

Who makes them

A large share of our cushion covers come from artisan cooperatives, self-help groups and small non-profit organisations whose whole purpose is to keep these age-old crafts alive and give artisans a fair livelihood. Many of these groups are too small to afford formal certifications, so where certificates are not available we share what we can: who made the piece, where, and how. If ethical sourcing matters to your customers, tell us, and we will put the right information in your hands.

Packing and shipping from India

Each cover is checked for size, stitching and zip action, folded and individually bagged with your label and barcode if needed. Sustainable packing in paper or cloth bags is available. Orders can travel by sea in full or shared containers, or by palletised air freight for smaller and urgent shipments. We quote ex-factory, FOB, CFR or CIF to your port, and we can combine cushion covers with throws, table linen and other home textiles in one shipment.

Buying cushion covers from India: common questions

Can I buy cushion covers from India in small quantities?

Yes. Minimums are per design and colour, and for handmade crafts they are kept modest. Tell us your total quantity and we will suggest how to split it across designs.

Can you make cushion covers to my own design?

Yes. Printers can carve new blocks, embroiderers can work from your artwork and weavers can adapt patterns and colours. Custom designs need a sample stage before bulk. Picking from existing designs is faster.

Do you offer private label?

Yes. We can add your woven label, swing tag, barcode and branded packaging as standard on any order.

How long does production take?

Printed covers usually take four to six weeks after approval. Embroidered and handloom covers take longer, and festive seasons such as Diwali are busy for artisans, so plan a little extra time around October and November.

Which craft should I start with?

If you are new to Indian textiles, block print and Shibori are the safest starting points for price and consistency. Add one embroidered or woven design as a hero piece, and let your customers tell you what to buy next.

Not sure where to begin? Send us a few words about your store, your customers and the look you want, and we will put together a short list of crafts and designs that fit.