| The tribal textile industry in India has been in | | | | the 1200's, the exportation of silk South Indian silk |
| existence for centuries. It is a huge global commodity | | | | fabrics to several countries including Indonesia was |
| for India. Today's trading combines the old methods | | | | common. Fabrics of cotton with prints called chintz |
| with modern requirements. The Indian textile tradition | | | | were exported to Europe as well as Far Eastern |
| is the oldest in the world with roots that are as far | | | | nations before Europeans arrived in India. A trade |
| back as Indus Valley civilization. Rigveda is the earliest | | | | company from the British East Indies was also |
| of the Veda, and it provides literary written | | | | involved in the trading of cotton as well as silk fabrics |
| documentation concerning textiles in the art of | | | | from India, including Dacca muslins and other popular |
| weaving among Indians. Ramayana and Mahabharta | | | | muslins originating from other areas as well as Chintz. |
| show the existence of many different varieties of | | | | The past traditions of the textile and handlooms are |
| fabrics in ancient India. The information is not limited | | | | still used by the weavers to make motifs, patterns, |
| to just one group of people, but references both the | | | | and designs. Global Trading The Indian textile industry |
| rich and stylish garments that the well-to-do wore as | | | | remains a huge commodity in the global market |
| well as the simply designed clothes that were | | | | where it offers a large variety of products at |
| symbolic of the common people. This discovery is | | | | affordable prices. Some of the products that are |
| supported by fragments of cotton material that | | | | offered include bed linen, curtains, cushion covers, |
| originated from gujarat discovered in the Egyptian | | | | designer bags, sheets, and shoes, handmade paper |
| tombs. Most of the ancient Indian writings mention | | | | and quilts, linens for the kitchen, table linen, wall |
| the textile craft as well. For centuries, tribal textiles | | | | decorations, and much more. For other textiles such |
| have been exported to many different countries. | | | | as Banndhani or Tie-and-Dye, Batik print, and others, |
| Indications are that the textile trade was an | | | | different techniques are employed in order to give |
| important industry for the Vijayanagar Empire around | | | | the décor a pleasant feeling. Modern Indian |
| 1504 A.D. Indian textiles are mentioned in several | | | | textile combine the past while at the same time |
| different sources define the art of Indian textile | | | | catering to the contemporary market. Many different |
| including that of geography, climate, customs, raw | | | | factors have influenced the tradition of India's textile |
| material availability and much more. The Trade | | | | industry and have been direct influences on the |
| Industry India had many trade links worldwide, which | | | | growth of India's textile tradition. |
| made it easy to trade the popular Indian textiles. | | | | Andrew Caxton is a freelance writer for . A focused |
| During the birth of Christianity, Indian silk was a | | | | website that offers the best articles on tribal textiles |
| popular textile in Rome. At around the same time, | | | | and decorating. |
| cotton textiles were being sent to China while during | | | | |