According to several historical records, chanderi weaving has existed since the 11th century. References to Vedic times in Indian mythology tell us that the Chanderi cloth was represented by Lord Krishna's cousin Shishupal. The Scindia royal family that then ruled Gwalior expanded their artistic patronage in 1910, bringing the Chanderi ethnic textiles back to life. Around this time, gold thread motifs were introduced in chanderi weaving. Unfortunately, during the 1920s, during the British dynasty, when Calcutta began to import low-quality, factory-made yarns from Manchester through Calcutta, the technology disappeared and destroyed the Chanderi hand-woven cotton market.
Chanderi fabric is woven from silk and golden spots with cotton yarn to give it a shiny texture. Chanderi silk fabrics are known for their delicate texture, transparency, and exceptional work in art and design. Most of the batti and motifs on Chanderi fabric are hand woven using needles.
