silk weavers of the salvi caste from the states of karnataka and maharashtra chose gujarat as the home for their renowned patola fabric. it is believed that salvis went to gujarat in the 12th century with the intention of acquiring the patronage of the chaulukyas rajputs, who ruled all of gujarat and parts of malva and south rajasthan at the time, with anahiwad patan as the capital. legend says that over 700 patola weavers came to the palace of raja kumarpal. the ruler used to dress in patola silk himself on special occasions.