Apparel Industry Management

Apparel Industry Management 3(3+0)

Lesson 6 : History Of Textile Industry

History

The history of apparel and textiles in India dates back to the use of mordant dyes and printing blocks around 3000 BC. The foundations of the India's textile trade with other countries started as early as the second century BC. A hoard of block printed and resist-dyed fabrics, primarily of Gujarati origin, discovered in the tombs of Fostat, Egypt, are the proof of large scale Indian export of cotton textiles to the Egypt in medieval periods.

During the 13th century, Indian silk was used as barter for spices from the western countries. Towards the end of the 17th century, the British East India Company had begun exports of Indian silks and several other cotton fabrics to other economies. These included the famous fine Muslin cloth of Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. Painted and printed cottons or chintz was widely practiced between India, Java, China and the Philippines, long before the arrival of the Europeans.