Archive · 25 Jan 2026
India and France's 400-Year Fashion and Textile Exchange
India and France have a long history of exchanging fashion and textiles.
French lace trimmings and denim have Indian connections, while Indian fabrics like Bengal muslin and chintz were loved by French aristocracy.
A recent exhibition in Paris, called 'Textile Matters: Woven Stories between India and France,' showed how these two countries have influenced each other's fashion over 400 years.
The exhibition featured old and new textiles, including works by Indian designers like Rahul Mishra and Manish Arora.
It also showed how Indian and French textiles have mixed and changed over time.
The exhibition will travel to India next year.
French lace trimmings and denim have historical ties to India, with denim's name originating from the French city of Nîmes.
Indian Bengal muslin was favored by French aristocracy for undergarments and later outerwear, reshaping ideas of elegance and comfort.
Chintz and paisley textiles from India were so coveted in France that they were banned between 1686 and 1759 to protect domestic industries.
The exhibition 'Textile Matters: Woven Stories between India and France' in Paris explored the 400-year-old exchange of textiles between the two nations.
The exhibition featured 60-plus archival garments, textiles, and embroidered fabrics, showcasing both historical and contemporary works by Indian and French designers.
- Who
- India and France
- What
- 400-year-old exchange of fashion and textiles
- When
- Exhibition held recently, traveling to India next year
- Where
- Paris, France
- Why
- To explore the creative ties between India and France through textiles
- Lace Trimmings
- Remnants of a 400-year-old exchange between France and India
- Denim
- Named after de Nîmes, referencing the city of Nîmes where denim was first made
- Bengal Muslin
- Favoured by French aristocracy for undergarments and later outerwear
- Chintz and Paisley Textiles
- Banned in French courts between 1686 and 1759 to protect domestic wool and silk industries
- Exhibition
- Textile Matters: Woven Stories between India and France, held in Paris
- Curator
- Mayank Mansingh Kaul
- Creative Director
- Christian Louboutin
- Exhibition Segments
- Seven segments covering four centuries of artistic exchange