Walking Down The Historic Memory Lane- A Look At Ancient Indian Fabrics
The Fascinating Journey Of Indian Fabrics Through The Ages
The journey of Indian fabrics dates back thousands of years. Our country was synonymous across the world with premium silk fabrics and satin material. Our ancient kings and queens would be adorned in luxurious chiffon silk and satin silk embroidered by some of the most talented artists of their kingdom. This exemplary art and rich heritage have been passed down through generations and we are still one of the leading exporters of premium fabrics.
The earliest known trace of fabrics in India dates back to 4000 BC and the art of dyed fabric was found to have originated in 2500 BC. Various kinds of needles and spindles, found at the Harappa excavation site suggest that people were well aware of the art of embroidery. The Ajanta wall paintings and beautiful temple sculptures depict the various kinds of fabric that were in fashion during those times. They portray the existence of lower and upper garments
with patterns of resist tie and dye and brocade.
A Look Into The Origin Of Some Of India’s Best Fabrics
Global trade systems were founded on the export of excellent quality fabrics from the sub-continent and this trade continues till date and has involved into a digital business as you can find some of the most unique and premium fabrics online at affordable cost. Let’s take alook at the origin of some of India’s best fabrics and their uses over the years.
1. Silk- Silk is the ancient time was known as the ‘Cloth of Royalty’ and was reserved for important religious occasions and other special events. Even today, when we talk about silk, the first thing that comes to our mind is a beautifully embroidered and draped silk saree. This use of silk as a prominent piece of clothing for women has not changed over the centuries. Silk fabric, also known as ‘Paat’ in East India, Pattu in South India, and Resham in North India, is a natural fibre produced from the cocoons of mulberry silkworm via a process called Sericulture.
2. Embroidery Fabrics- Embroidery is the art of decorating various fabrics with
patterns, motifs, or abstract designs, hand-stitched with a needle. It also includes sewing beads, sequins, mirrors, and pearls to add a touch of richness to the designs. Traces of embroidery garments can be found as far as 2000 BC but it became more popular in India in the 16 th century, during the reign of Emperor Akbar who had a keen interest in textiles and encouraged artists across the country to flaunt their brilliant artwork.
3. Chiffon- Chiffon is primarily made from synthetic fibres such as nylon, rayon, and polyester or silk. It is a lightweight plain-woven fabric with a net-like pattern that gives it a soft feel and transparent appearance. In India, Chiffon is most commonly used in sarees, dresses, and scarves. Chiffon’s discovery was comparatively recent as it was first exclusively made with Silk until the 20 th century. After the invention of Nylon in 1938 and polyester fabric in 1958, the polyester chiffon blend became more popular because of its durability and economic viability.
House of Textiles is proud to be a part of such an ancient and rich textiles industry and we hope to continue the tradition of providing premium fabrics online. Our mission is to offer a curated range of luxury fabrics at your doorstep. Our fabrics are always in sync with the ever-changing fashion trends and we introduce our innovative designs to cater to the changing fashion seasons and latest colours.
