Cloth that Changed the World. The Art and Fashion of Indian Chint
Cloth that Changed the World. The Art and Fashion of Indian Chint
Chintz, a type of multicoloured printed or painted cotton cloth, originated
in India yet exerted influence far beyond its home shores: it became a
driving force of the spice trade in the East Indies, and it attracted European
merchants, who by the 17th century were importing millions of pieces. In
the 18th century, Indian chintz became so coveted globally that Europeans
attempted to imitate its uniquely vibrant dyes and design – a quest that
eventually sparked the mechanical and business innovations that ushered in
the Industrial Revolution, with its far-reaching societal impacts.
This beautifully illustrated book tells the fascinating and multidisciplinary
stories of the widespread desire for Indian chintz over 1,000 years to
its latest resurgence in modern fashion and home design. Based on the
renowned Indian chintz collections held at the Royal Ontario Museum, the
book showcases the genius of Indian chintz makers and the dazzling variety
of works they have created for specialised markets: religious and court
banners for India, monumental gilded wall hangings for elite homes in
Europe and Thailand, luxury women’s dress for England, sacred hangings
for ancestral ceremonies in Indonesia and today’s runways of Lakme
Fashion Week in Mumbai.
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