Fabindia

In the late 1970s American John Bissell began working with Indian communities on traditional textiles for fashion and home products. Over the course of fifty years he has created an empire that is a bit like the Conran’s of India with a conscience. The many products, including fashions and bed and table linens, are made by artisans in villages around the country. The company’s growth has been studied as a business model for social change and its products have brought a modern flair to millions of Indian homes. The stock varies widely from shop to shop (there are more than a dozen just in Delhi) but you can hit the jackpot and find fabulous cotton napkins or placemats for a few dollars.