Textile fabrics are judged by many criteria. Flexibility and sufficient strength for the intended use are generally major requirements, and industrial fabrics must meet rigid specifications of width, weight per unit area, weave and yarn structure, strength and elongation, acidity or alkalinity, thickness, and porosity.

Handlooms

Handloom is the most important traditional industry of orissa. The Handloom Indstruy is famous for its excellent artistic and superior craftmanship. The handloon fabrics of Orissa with exquisite craftmanship and colour combination with traditional design and motifs have establishd a pride of place in the domestic as well as international market.
Handloom items of Orissa have the following specialities.

• Tie and Dye method of colour combination
  
• Unique design and superior quality
  
• Tassar Fabrics of indigeneous silk special to Orissa and Chotnagpur plateau

Sericulture

The object of the scheme is to provide assistance to the Sericulturist by supply of planting materials, disinfecting material , preparation of Chowki worms, incentive bonus to bi-voltine rearers, study tour & training to Sericulture rearers, organization of seminars, farmers' day exhibition, Chowki rearing training  printing of publicity material etc. The schemes are being implemented by assistance from the state Govt. and Govt. of India through Central Silk Board. During the year 2004-05, a sum of Rs.30.00lakhs has been spent towards state share of assistance.

During  the 10th five year plan 132.28 metric tone of yarn were produced providing employment opportunity to 17340 farmers' up to end of 2004-05

32.53 metric tons of Tassar silk were produced generating employment to 13508 farmers in mulberry sectors and 1.85 metric tons of raw silk were produced generating employment to 2935 persons in Eri sectors. 0.55 metric ton of raw silk were also produced providing self employment to 896 persons.