A lightweight cotton fabric with a plaid pattern, typically used for shirts and summer clothing. It is characterized by its bright colors and tendency to fade and bleed when washed.
Named after Madras (now Chennai), a major port city in Tamil Nadu, India, where this type of cotton fabric was originally woven and exported. The word entered English in the 17th century through British and Dutch East India Company trade. The city name comes from Tamil மद்रास் (Madrās), possibly from மண்டர (maṇḍara) meaning 'region'.
True madras fabric was designed to fade beautifully with each wash, creating unique color variations that were actually considered a feature, not a flaw! American prep school culture adopted madras shirts in the 1960s, not knowing they were wearing a traditional Indian textile technique that was centuries old.
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