Exploring the Rich History of Madras Cloth with the Original Madras Trading Company
Key Highlights :
The Original Madras Trading Company (OTMC) has been in the fabric business for five decades, since the grandfather of present owner Prasan Shah emigrated from Chennai to New York City to sell the lightweight, handspun cotton fabric to major American names such as Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren. The fabric, known as madras, has been produced in India for centuries, but OTMC can be credited with popularizing it stateside. With its colorful checked patterns, madras quickly became a prep staple, even appearing on the cover of The Official Preppy Handbook.
Now, the Original Madras Trading Company is making its own covetable clothing. For a brand that released its first collection just three years ago, the firm is on a roll. Its own-label clothing can be found on its website or on the shelves of over 40 independent retailers across the globe, and it has collaborated with the likes of Sid Mashburn, WM Brown, and Bergdorf Goodman.
The secret to OTMC's success lies in its commitment to preserving the craft of madras cloth. The business continues to produce madras on traditional handlooms in the Indian city of Chennai, and it now manufactures it into clothing on the same site. Gaining control over the manufacturing process has allowed the Original Madras Trading Company to break out of the fabric’s preppy mold and experiment with such styles as band collar popovers, short-sleeved Cuban shirts, jumpsuits and its own, hooded take on the kurta, a loose tunic typical to South Asia.
The OTMC has also opened up its extensive fabric archive to collaborators, which has yielded an exclusive collection for Bergdorf Goodman based on archival patterns modified by its men’s fashion director Bruce Pask, and a capsule for WM Brown magazine featuring three-button sport jackets, shorts, and even lungis in archival patterns selected by its editor Matt Hranek.
The Original Madras Trading Company also continues to weave exclusive cloths for other clothiers, such as Sid Mashburn and The Armoury. This season saw the firm weave four exclusive cloths for Sid Mashburn, and it supplied proprietary fabric for a new line of shirts set to be released by The Armoury in June. A collaboration between the Original Madras Trading Company and Nigel Cabourn is also in the works for spring 2024.
By preserving the craft of madras cloth, the Original Madras Trading Company is helping to keep the fabric's rich, international history alive. Its collaborations with major clothiers and designers are helping to spread the word about madras cloth, and its commitment to training new weavers is ensuring that the craft will continue to thrive. The Original Madras Trading Company is bringing the timeless beauty of madras cloth to a new generation.
