It is perhaps one of the few fabrics that can be exploited according to one’s needs, and does not have to be used only in one specific way. It is also utilized for home décor items and arts and crafts.Ĭalico is a fabric that is extremely versatile and can be used in a wide range of products – skirts, dresses, bags, to a backdrop canvas for painting. It is also a sturdy fabric for all kinds of embroidery. They use the calico cloth as a rough canvas for their experiments since it helps them save money over buying expensive material. Perhaps the most interesting use of this fabric is when fashion designers use it for creating dummy or unfinished designs. The hard quality of this fabric makes it suitable for all kinds of products, such as sturdy bags, quilts with patchwork, curtains, pillowcases and duvets. The weavers who work towards keeping the uniqueness of this age-old fabric alive are known as ‘ chaliyas’, and they come from communities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. There are several weaving units in Malabar where this fabric is produced on a large scale. While it was strong and sturdy, it also displayed uniqueness in style. Traditional European dresses, waistcoats, home furnishings, and other objects made the most of this fabric.

It was all due to European utilization that the popularity in this fabric reached greater heights. A special term was coined for this fabric by the Europeans – ‘ Indienne ordinaire’. In 1680, millions of pieces were imported into France, Holland and England. Cotton was a rarity for the Europeans, and this was another reason that they saw immense value in the Calico cloth. While the British may have had a pivotal role in discovering the uniqueness of this fabric, it was the Dutch traders who, in the 17th century, were greatly impressed with this material due to its simple, yet sturdy form. The word ‘Calico’ comes from Calicut, which was a European term for the Indian city Kozhikode. It is a simple and cheap quality of cotton however, it is one of the oldest material forms in India. It has an unfinished appearance and was originally discovered and coined by the British during their reign and influence in India. When all of these things happened simultaneously, sales of British calico cotton goods shot up around the world and eventually surpassed those of hand-woven and hand-printed fabrics.Calico Printed Saree (Image Courtesy: Ebay)Ĭalico cloth is unbleached and half-processed cotton, and is less coarse than denim. They also devised machinery that could weave them swiftly and inexpensively, then operated by industrial employees who were given a minimal wage. In parallel with this, the British textile market began importing cotton from the United States in the early 1800s.Instead, cotton textiles made in Britain started to take their position in international marketplaces. By the middle of the 19th century, India's weaving industry was on the verge of extinction.Despite the fact that England's environment did not allow for the production of cotton, the country did its best to defend its textile industry against the rising demand for calico and cotton from India.After the capture of a Portuguese ship in the 16th century that was carrying Indian calico as prized cargo, England got quite familiar with this kind of cloth and began using it extensively. The 17th century saw the beginning of commercial relations with Europe. In the 15th century, calico woven in the Indian state of Gujarat made its way to Egypt and other parts of Northern Africa.He referred to it as a ' printed fabric with a Lotus design' while he was describing it. Hemachandra, a writer who lived in the 12th century, made reference to Calico in one of his works.The term 'Calico' comes from the European name for the city of Kozhikode, which is located in the Indian state of Kerala (southwestern India). Even though India did not have any industrial equipment at the time, historians believe the country produced around a fifth of all the fabric around the globe.During their rule in the nation, the British were responsible for the discovery of the fabric. Calico is one of the oldest materials still in use in India and has a rich cultural heritage as a result.

Calico fabric