Textiles

The checked fabric Madras was adopted by the affluent elite of 1950s America. But the fabric's origins go back to a South Indian fishing village, writes Kalpana Sunder.

The thousand-year-old upcycling handicraft was traditionally a canvas for ordinary women to express their fears and hopes. Now it's hugely popular again, writes Kalpana Sunder.

For nearly 500 years, men on this tiny Peruvian island have attracted partners by knitting elaborate Andean hats.

A symbol of freedom, the handspun fabric khadi was celebrated by Gandhi. Now it is sought after again, writes Kalpana Sunder, as designers tap into its transformative power.

It originated in India, and came to dominate Western interiors and fashion. Joobin Bekhrad traces the fascinating – and turbulent – history of all things ‘chintzy’.