The handloom industry, which continues to thrive in Kanchipuram despite the odds, has become an integral part of India’s cultural ethos. Its most famous product may be the resplendent Kanjivaram saree (think Rekha at Filmfare) but Tamil Nadu’s loom city makes other silk fabrics too, often defined by designs that are so unique, they are tough to replicate. Back in the day, textiles from Kanchipuram were exchanged for goods.