India is the land of cloth. The subcontinent’s unique natural resources of textile fibres and dyestuffs have combined with millennia of ingenuity and innovation to create an astonishing array of fabrics, from luxurious Mughal velvets to simple rural embroideries. The Fabric of India is the first truly comprehensive book on the subject, covering an extraordinary range of material from across the subcontinent. From ancient woollen fragments to cutting-edge contemporary designs, South Indian temple hangings to stunning Kashmir pashmina, this volume explores in vivid detail India’s glorious textile heritage.

Contents: Introduction/Rosemary Crill. 1. Materials and making/Steven Cohen. 2. Local and global: patronage and use/ Rosemary Crill. 3. Textiles in the modern world/Divia Patel. Notes. Bibliography. Glossary. Index.