Chennai’s 1st gift to the world. Madras cotton
First, an introduction. The Metroblogging network, all 50 cities around the world, is taking part in a series called the Gifts to the world. In this, each city will identify 7 gifts (People, places, styles, stuff, ideas) that originated in that particular city, and has been adopted the world over, or atleast, extensively. Chennai’s got quite a few, we think. And so, late as it is to take part, here’s a list that the Chennai Metroblogging Authors have come up with – 7 Gifts Chennai’s given to the world.
Gift #1 – Madras Cotton
It’s what the Hathway man wears, bleeding colours and all. It defined, for a long time, what the ‘cool’ dude ought to look like. And more importantly, it defined one man’s career – David Ogilvy.
We’re talking of Madras Cotton, or the Bleeding Madras.
Cotton cloth was one of the main reason, the East India company chose to settle down in Madras, and build its factory here. For, here in a sandy tract of land, was “Cloathe, the cheaper by 20p”. This part of the land was always associated with cotton, apparently.
Cloth, made from tree-barks, cotton and other fibres have been exported out of the area we now call Chennai. Around the 12th Century, Gadda/Gada – a cotton weave, was exported to the Middle east, became popular as headpieces. That started the whole thing off. With the Britishers opening shop here, the weavers began copying the Scottish plaid design (from the Tartans), leading to the formation of the very popular Madras Checks.
By the 20th Century, Madras cotton had grown quite popular the world over, for a town in Oregon was called Madras, inspired by a bolt of fabric that was exported from Madras, India.
As for David Ogilvy, the story goes that he was hired to advertise the Madras checks that the Hathway shirt company sold. Being hand-dyed with vegetable dyes, the colours ran, and faded out easily. Like most people in advertising, David Ogilvy flipped a failing into a virtue, selling shirts that were “Guaranteed to fade”. Bleeding Madras was in, so was Madras, the city too, for a while.
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Oooh, I LOVE Madras! Nothing says summer and balmy breezes, to me, like the return of Madras to the store shelves – even way over here in California. I recall fondly the year I had a beautiful madras backpack for the new school year.
Thanks, Chennai!
Madras cocktail?
When I was in Chennai last June, on my last day in the city, I begged the Aunti-ji’s from the wedding we had attended to take me to Spencer Plaza with the sole intention of buying Madras shirts. I bought about 15, and at very good prices (they knew to haggle; the silly American would have paid full listed price!).
Where are you from Peter? What is this Aunty Ji’s crap what are you talking about, what is this Ji, I don’t follow. Madras shirts ha ha ha as if any one would buy that besides locals.Those shirts are the funniest looking shirts I have seen in my life.
Where are you from Peter? What is this Aunty Ji’s crap what are you talking about, what is this Ji, I don’t follow. Madras shirts ha ha ha as if any one would buy that besides locals.Those shirts are the funniest looking shirts I have seen in my life. And you went to Spencer Plaza to buy them you must be an IDIOT.
We love madras clothes for men and women
http://www.capemadras.com
Do they still sell cotton stuff off Pantheon Road? Opposite Fountain Plaza? I used to buy them for around Rs.10. Now I am in Karnataka and never had the chance to go to Agarwal(?) for his samosa. Keep writing. Dont bother too much about negative comments