Surat textile units flood market with AI-generated prints of GI-tagged Patola, Patan artisans outraged

Surat’s textile industry has been producing AI-generated Patola print fabrics that closely mimic the centuries-old Patan Patola craft, as per reports.

These synthetic, chemical-dyed replicas sold at just ₹900–₹1,500 are being widely purchased in the wedding season, posing a threat to the traditional handwoven art form.

Artisans from Patan and Rajkot have raised strong objections, saying the counterfeit designs undermine Gujarat’s heritage despite strict GI-tag protection laws.

They argue that thousands of metres of printed Patola fabric are produced daily in Surat, fading within days unlike the authentic, natural-dyed, handwoven Patola sarees that cost around ₹4 lakh and last generations.

Patan weaver Rahul Salvi said they have urged the government to protect original materials and colours as mandated under GI rules. He added that “while foreign designers come to Gujarat to study authentic Patola weaving, industrial duplication at home has put the art’s very identity at risk”. Artisans demand the government impose a ban on duplicate Patola.