India, May 3 -- There's a story behind each thread of a handcrafted weave. On National Textile Day today, designers talk about how vital textile design has become to their creative process - and why you shouldn't confuse it with fashion design.

While the two are separate aspects, textile designer Ashdeen Lilaowala finds that in this day and age, fashion and textiles are integrated into each other: "I use both to create a cohesive product, not separate items. We use textiles to create fashion; sometimes even fashion inspires the creation of a certain textile."

While designer Ateev Anand sees a clear distinction between the two, he tells us that the fabrics heavily inspire the way he creates clothing. "During my creative process, I always...