This essay is based on the forgotten history of the Indian textiles and the trading connection it made between Britain and South- Asia. In every civilized community there are two industries which are the oldest and most fundamental of all textiles and pottery. (Fraser G, 1948:3) The earliest textiles were made at Mohenjo-Daro, an archaeological site of the third millennium BC on the Indus River. A woven and madder- dyed cotton fragments were found wrapped round a silver pot which is preserved by metallic salts which impregnated the cloth (Barnard N. & Gillow J., 1991: 41). India sent cloth to many countries even before the 17th century. India realized the importance of trading and the benefits it could give to the country. …show more content…
British East India Company was established in 1600, with intentions to import cotton and in return to export wool. Indian consumers weren’t in great demand for wool so the Company wanted to exchange bullions in return to Indian goods. The Company sold to consumer markets within Asia but soon to consumers in Europe. In 1610, European and Asian owned ships were already carrying almost 10 million yards of cloth to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Plus a few yards of fabric of samples to Europe. The Company opened trading posts in madras and other parts of India, for the export of printed and painted Indian cotton, which were mainly known as calico and chintz in exchange to gold and silver. The company’s decision of exchanging gold made England angry hence England was prompted to concentrate on policy of re-export of Indian textiles. East India Company was operated under what became known as factory system. …show more content…
The directors of the Company started to find possibilities for a home market. Until 1649, the findings weren’t much; the process was slow and by 1662 actual samples were sent into translation of Indian chintz initially for furnishing fabrics alone. During the period of 1664, these textiles made an impact on home market with its rich exotic display due to which company produced quarter a million of pieces to export. In the late 1660s East India company’s export to Europe went up to ten million and continued to rise sharply. By 1680’s when figures increased to more than one and a half million pieces a