How do the names of different textiles tell us about their histories?

There are various examples of names of textiles derived from different languages.

● Fine cotton made in India was exported to Mosul in present day Iraq by Arab merchants. European traders purchased this cotton and were impressed by the fine quality and called it “Muslin”.

● The English word Chintz is derived from Chhint, a Hindi word.

● When the Portuguese first came to India In search of spices they landed in Calicut on the Kerala coast in south-west India. The cotton textiles which they took back to Europe, along with the spices came to be called “calico”.

● Originally the term, bandanna derived from the word ‘bandhana’ (Hindi for tying). The widespread use of such words shows how popular Indian textiles had become in different parts of the world.