Even though it may not be renowned as one of the most fashionable fabrics, or perhaps the most luxurious, it has made a tremendous mark for itself in the simple and low-maintenance fashion sector, and in particular in the realm of arts and crafts.Ĭalico, as a fabric for the more fashionable, may not be of great popularity or significance since it does not come across as an item of luxury. Since Calico has more of a European influence, it is a well-recognized fabric all over the world.
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. Calico Printed Saree (Image Courtesy: Ebay)Ĭalico cloth is unbleached and half-processed cotton, and is less coarse than denim.
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