Question

How do the names of different textiles tell us about their histories?

Answer 1

• Bandanna is a bright coloured cloth produced through a method of dying and tying.
• Bandanna was derived from the word bandhna which means tying in Hindu.
• Currently, any brightly printed and coloured scarf for the head or neck is now referred to as a bandanna.
• The production of Bandanna patterns were mostly In Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Other popular clothes which were noted by their place of origin are Orissa, Calcutta, Patna, Kasim bazar, Charpoore.
• Popularity of Indian textiles across the world could be understood from the widespread use of such words.
• Calico became the general name for all cotton textiles as the Portuguese took back cotton textiles from India to Europe. The name Calico is derived from the word ‘Calicut’, a place located in Western Coast of India (Kerala).
• Bandanna, Khassa (Cossaes), Chintz were popular in European markets as they were ordered in bulk.
• One could find the list from an order book of East India Company officials which was sent to its officials in Calcutta. This order book was of the year 1730, and had an order for 5,89,000 pieces of cloth which had 98 different varieties of silk and cotton.
• In Europe and England, from the 1860s, there began a craze for printed Indian cotton textiles. These textiles were popular for their relative cheapness, fine texture and exquisite floral designs.
• Indian fabric was worn by rich people in England.
• Even the Queen of England used to wear Indian fabric.
• Till the end of the eighteenth century the world trade was dominated by Indian textiles.