| Contemporary Indian textile reveals a lot about the rich | | | | and preference in Indonesia. While this was happening, |
| cultural past of India. Simplicity and variety have helped | | | | the European markets were not spared either. The |
| textile art from various pockets in India flourish to global | | | | 'British East India Company' made a huge killing in the |
| acceptance. Indian is known to be one of the oldest | | | | textile business mainly benefiting from different |
| textile manufacturing countries of the world. The Indus | | | | varieties of Indian made clothing, one of them being |
| valley is where it is said to have originated. Ancient | | | | Dacca muslins. In this era muslins from Bengal, Orissa |
| literature makes detailed mention about the processes | | | | and Bihar also gained popularity. Muslin is a thin fabric |
| involved with textile manufacturing. Amongst these, the | | | | made from cotton and usually has printed designs of |
| Rigveda provides details about the weaving | | | | flowers, etc. It has a shiny appearance. This style is still |
| processes of those times. Indian mythology also | | | | in vogue. A lot of the current designs and patterns are |
| reveals a lot about textiles. The Ramayana and | | | | a continuation of that school of art and design. The |
| Mahabharata have documented the existence of | | | | motifs, designs, patterns, etc. and the old weaving |
| fabrics in that era. The stylized clothing of the rich and | | | | techniques are still used by handloom weavers, |
| aristocrats and the simple clothing of the ordinary find | | | | although the textile weaving process has changed |
| brief mention in the epics. Apart from this, cotton | | | | significantly with the advent of power-looms. Indian |
| material found in the Egyptian tombs was found to be | | | | textile has thus found a place in the global market, |
| made in Gujarat. Most of the ancient writings also talk | | | | mainly due to its high quality. That apart the pricing is |
| about textile manufacturing thereby reinforcing the fact | | | | very affordable when compared to the competition. |
| that this was indeed in existence in the past. Surplus | | | | One can find varieties to choose between Cushion |
| garments were often exported to other countries. This | | | | covers, curtains, bed covers, linen, shoes, handmade |
| has been clearly scripted in the historical musings of | | | | paper, quilts, etc. And the best part is the price. These |
| the famous vijayanagar empire (ad 1504). Textile | | | | items are available at a fraction of the price one would |
| manufacturing was referred to as an important trade | | | | pay in the western world. Some other aspects gaining |
| of that era. One of the reasons that the textile industry | | | | popularity are the Bandhani and Batik printing |
| picked up in India in the ancient times was because of | | | | techniques. Block printing has amazed the western |
| the suitable climate, social customs and availability of | | | | buyers so much that they are exported in huge |
| raw materials required for the process. From a trade | | | | volumes. Contemporary Indian textile reveals a lot |
| perspective, India has had several ties with countries of | | | | about the rich cultural past of India. Simplicity and |
| the East and the West. The popularity of Indian silk | | | | variety have helped textile art from various pockets in |
| helped it reach the Roman Empire in huge volumes. | | | | India flourish to global acceptance. The historical |
| Research has revealed pieces of cotton garments | | | | revelation of this art has also helped in adding |
| originating from Gujarat, in the Egyptian tombs. This | | | | popularity to Indian textile art even today and will |
| was found especially in the tombs at Fostat, of the 5th | | | | continue to popularize this art in the future as well. |
| century A.D. At some point cotton textiles were also | | | | Adam Peters is a syndicated writer of . You can find |
| exported to verious regions of China. This happened | | | | more information and resources on tribal textiles at his |
| primarily during the renowned times of the silk trade. | | | | website. |
| Silk fabrics from south India also found a big market | | | | |