FabIndia's premise is compelling: artisan-crafted textiles at accessible-ish premium prices, connecting Indian craft clusters to urban buyers. The brand has been at this since 1960 and genuinely has relationships with weaving and craft communities across the country. But as they've scaled, some of what made them special has been diluted. I wanted to test whether the 2026 version of FabIndia still justifies paying Rs 1,800 for a kurta when Biba charges Rs 799 for something that also looks decent.
| Item | Category | Price (Rs) | Quality (1-10) | Artisan Credential | Worth Paying Premium? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khadi Cotton Straight Kurta | Women's Clothing | 1,790 | 9 | Genuine handspun | Yes — exceptional |
| Block Print Kurta Set | Women's Clothing | 2,490 | 8 | Hand block printed | Yes |
| Silk Cotton Saree | Women's Clothing | 3,290 | 8 | Handwoven | Yes |
| Woven Dupatta | Women's Clothing | 890 | 7 | Machine woven | Marginal |
| Fusion Crop Jacket | Women's Clothing | 1,990 | 5 | None evident | No |
| Men's Linen Shirt | Men's Clothing | 1,490 | 8 | Linen sourced, machine made | Yes |
| Embroidered Kurta (Festive) | Women's Clothing | 2,190 | 6 | Machine embroidery | No |
| Organic Cotton Loungewear Set | Women's Clothing | 1,690 | 8 | Organic certified | Yes |
| Handloom Throw Blanket | Home | 1,490 | 9 | Handloom woven | Yes |
| Block Print Cushion Covers (set of 2) | Home | 790 | 7 | Hand block printed | Yes |
| Silver-toned Earrings | Accessories | 590 | 6 | Craft silver look | Marginal |
| Leather Juttis | Accessories | 1,590 | 5 | Handcrafted | No |
The Good
The khadi cotton kurta at Rs 1,790 is the most honest product FabIndia sells. Khadi fabric has a distinctive rough-soft texture that no machine-made fabric replicates, and FabIndia's sourcing is genuine — you can feel the hand-spinning in the uneven weave, which is a feature, not a defect. I've washed this kurta nine times now and it has softened beautifully with each wash, the way natural cotton should. It will outlast three Biba kurtas. If you buy one FabIndia piece, make it a khadi cotton one.
Their block print kurta set was the second standout. The jaipur block print on the kurta is genuinely hand-applied — slight registration variations from repeat to repeat confirm it's not a digital or screen print imitating block print. The dyes are botanical (according to the label) and the colours after three washes have faded only marginally to a pleasant, slightly washed quality that actually improves the look. At Rs 2,490 for a kurta-and-dupatta set, this is good value for genuine craft.
FabIndia's home textiles may actually be the best value in their entire range. The handloom throw blanket at Rs 1,490 is a product I would genuinely struggle to find elsewhere at this price with the same weave density and cotton quality. It has been through five washes and a lot of use over two months and shows zero pilling or fraying. Their block print cushion covers are similarly well-executed.
The Bad
The fusion crop jacket was a genuine disappointment and evidence of FabIndia's uncomfortable expansion into contemporary-fusion fashion. The fabric was a cotton-polyester blend with no discernible artisan credential — no handweaving, no hand print, nothing that justifies the FabIndia premium. At Rs 1,990 it felt like a Zara-adjacent product wearing FabIndia's ethical brand identity as a costume. The stitching at the armhole was also loose on one side — unacceptable at this price.
The festive embroidered kurta at Rs 2,190 had a critical problem that I find increasingly common in FabIndia's festive range: the embroidery was machine-done, not hand-done, and priced as if it were handwork. I compared it directly with a hand-embroidered kurta from a Lucknow chikankari seller at a similar price point — the FabIndia embroidery looked flat and uniform under examination. Their store staff claimed it was 'handcrafted' — this is at best misleading. At Rs 2,190, I expect genuine artisan work.
The juttis were the most frustrating purchase. Rs 1,590 for a product that shows creasing and scuffing after two wears is genuinely poor value. One jutti's heel stitching had started to separate by the fourth wear. I've bought handcrafted juttis directly from Jaipur artisan markets for Rs 600-800 that outlasted these. FabIndia's accessories seem to carry the brand's premium markup without matching its clothing category's quality standards.
biba
BIBA Women's Cotton Straight Printed Kurta
biba
BIBA Women's Cotton Printed Kurta Set with Dupatta
biba
BIBA Women's Cotton A-Line Churidar Suit
libas
Libas Women's Embroidered Cotton Straight Kurta with Palazzos & Dupatta
Value for Money
FabIndia's value proposition holds strongly in: khadi and handspun cotton clothing, block print and handloom sarees, and home textiles. It breaks down in: contemporary fusion clothing, heavily embellished festive wear, and accessories. The honest split is roughly 60% of their range justifies the premium, 40% does not. Before buying, I now always ask: does this product have a specific artisan technique that a cheaper brand cannot replicate? If the answer is yes, FabIndia usually delivers. If no, shop elsewhere.
Who Should Buy
- Anyone who genuinely cares about supporting Indian artisan communities and is willing to pay a moderate premium for verifiable craft credentials
- Buyers looking for high-quality everyday cotton clothing that will last 3-5 years with proper care — especially khadi and handloom pieces
- Those building a saree collection who want handwoven cottons, silks, and craft sarees in the Rs 2,000-5,000 range
- Home decor buyers — FabIndia's textiles, cushion covers, and throws are consistently excellent and competitively priced within the quality tier
Skip If
- You're shopping for festive or heavily embellished ethnic wear — FabIndia's festive range consistently underdelivers and is priced higher than better alternatives
- You want contemporary or fusion fashion — FabIndia's new-direction contemporary pieces lack the artisan integrity that justifies paying their prices over H&M or Zara
- You're buying accessories like juttis, bags, or jewellery — these categories have poor value-for-money and inconsistent quality at FabIndia's price points
OUR VERDICT
FabIndia at its best — khadi cottons, block prints, handloom sarees, home textiles — is genuinely worth the premium and one of the better retail options for real Indian craft. But the brand's expansion into contemporary fashion and embellished festive wear has created a two-tier product range, and the lower tier is actively misleading given FabIndia's brand positioning. Go in knowing what you're looking for and read product details carefully; the word 'handcrafted' on the tag doesn't always mean what you'd hope.