Delhi’s national museum is currently showcasing clothes, some which have crossed the 7 seas and some as early as the 13th century. Named ‘Masters of the Cloth: Indian textiles Traded to Distant Shores’, TAPI collection, the fabrics reveal liberal borrowing of other traditions, from western to oriental motifs.
Praful and Shilpa Shah of the Surat-based Garden Silk Mills have put together their private collection, which will be on till Dec. 18th. ‘‘The earliest surviving Indian textiles can be found in Egyptian port town of Fustat,’’ says Shilpa Shah. An indigo border fragment of a fifteenth century piece of cloth that traveled from Gujarat is on display at the museum.
‘‘These fabric show the volume of trade that went on between India and other countries. Other countries have done much research on their textiles but not much has been done in India’’, claims Shilpa.
Some 15 years ago, the Shahs launched their treasure hunt, which started rather unintentionally. ‘‘We were on a holiday in an Indonesian island when someone told us about some fabric that looked very Indian,’’ remembers Shilpa. From there on started a successful quest to find out more about
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| the escapade. Their collection comprises of items obtained from flea markets or collectors from all over the world.
A bit of history is also preserved in these pieces of cloth, like the spirit of entrepreneurship and travel, and the passage of time, each having their own enigmatic charms. Ironically, the fabrics that traveled abroad can no longer be found in their country of origin.
The display also includes a ceremonial mata hari cloth (meaning sun or eye of dawn in Bahas Indonesia and Malay). But the existence of some fabrics is getting hard in their countries. Older value oriented fabrics have lost their popularity amongst the younger generation. Shilpa says, ”I remember meeting an old lady in Indonesia and she said this cloth protects us but my grandchildren don’t believe in it any more.’’
Also on display are the Chintz palampores (slang for palang posh or bed covers) and dresses targeted for the western market. Other exhibits a hybrid of styles like oriental Chintz palampores designed for a western market, which seemed in demand.
‘‘Perhaps some universities could think of introducing courses on the history of Indian textile,’’ says Shilpa Shah, hopeful the exhibition could aid in triggering a greater interest in Indian fabric. 
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