Indian handwoven fabrics have been known since time immemorial. Though Indian was famous even in ancient as an exporter of textile to most parts of the civilized world. Through the Silk Route few actual fabrics of early dyed or printed cottons have survived. Indian floral prints, dating back to the 18th century was discovered by Sir Aurel Stein in the Icy water of Central Asia. From this evidence we can firmly say that all the arts and crafts of India, traditional handloom textiles are probably the oldest. During the colonial era, a handloom textile of India faced unforeseen competition from the industrial produced textile goods of U.K. combined by other factors, such as famine. Many skilled weavers became unemployed and were also reduced to wage workers dependent on merchants for the sale of their products.
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