The Indian Textile Sourcebook (Victoria And Albert Museum): Patterns And Techniques, Avalon Fotheringham

The Indian Textile Sourcebook is an unparalleled visual repository of Indian textile design, drawn from the V&A’s exceptional collection. Organised into three evocative chapters—Floral, Figurative, and Abstract & Geometric—the book explores a vivid array of printing and weaving motifs, revealing both their cultural origins and decorative evolution. Each section introduces its style’s historical journey before delving into structural, surface, and embellishment techniques, enriched with close-up images that even showcase the fabric reverse—a rare glimpse into the craftsperson’s process.

Overflowing with over 300 mesmerising textile designs, the 400-page volume functions as both a design almanac and scholarly reference—essential inspiration for anyone fascinated by pattern-making, colour interplay, and the decorative arts.

About the Author
Avalon Fotheringham is a curator in the Asian Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, specialising in South Asian textiles. Her deep institutional insight underpins the rich curation and accessible scholarship of this compendium.

Publication date: 2019
Publisher: Thames & Hudson 
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780500480427