Mulmul- story of the fine cotton fabric

What makes Mulmul stand out ?

Mulmul's appeal lies in both its exterior beauty and interior properties. Its fine, silky fibers are stronger than regular cotton, making it resistant to fraying, tearing, wrinkling, and highly absorbent. The fabric is hypoallergenic and regulates body temperature, keeping the wearer cool during the day and cozy at night. Lightweight, soft, and breathable, it's ideal for summer, as it wicks away moisture. It only gets softer with each wash. Investing in a mulmul kurta set not only benefits you, but the planet too, as the 100% plant-based and biodegradable material leaves a minimal carbon footprint. In a time where sustainability is a top priority in the fashion industry, mulmul plays a crucial role.

Mulmul’s Origin

The Mulmul fabric has roots dating back to the reign of Chandragupta Maurya in 321–297 BCE. It became popular globally, especially during the Mughal rule, and was first encountered by Europeans in Mosul, Iraq, where it was imported by Arab traders. Bengali weavers created the fabric, initially reserved for Indian royalty only. Over time, it gained worldwide popularity and became a prized import from India to countries such as England and Scotland. The fabric's production originated in Dhakeshwari (present-day Dhaka, Bangladesh) which was the capital of the Mulmul trade during Mughal rule. It was so lightweight and fine, it earned the nicknames "Woven Wind" and "Wonder Gossamer." The commercial viability of Mulmul was established in Europe almost a 1000 years ago and was referred to by ancient Greek and Roman writers.

The Painful Colonial History..

The British arrived in India when it was dominating the global export market due to its high-quality craftsmanship. Despite the British importing and mass-producing industrially made fabrics, they could not match the fine craftsmanship of India. Mulmul was a superior hand-woven fabric that was a direct challenge to the British industrial production. The British first tried to kill the production of Mulmul by taxing domestic Mulmul fabrics at 70-80% and imported British factory-made clothes at a mere 2-4%. When this failed, the British resorted to inhumane methods to stop the production of Mulmul. In the early 19th century, the British carried out a horrific act in colonial India by rounding up hundreds of local weavers in Bengal and cutting off their hands to prevent them from continuing their trade and passing it down to future generations. This act not only caused the weavers to lose their hands but also their livelihood and hope for the future, causing them to fall into a never-ending cycle of poverty.

Mulmul in Present India

Reviving traditional sustainable textiles, like Mulmul or Muslin, is a conscious effort to promote Indian artisanry and protect the environment in a world dominated by synthetic fast fashion. Despite facing near extinction for nearly two centuries, Mulmul has been revived and is now widely available and affordable. There are many options to purchase Mulmul fabric, as the handloom industry has grown and evolved, especially in cities like Rajasthan and Bengal. When buying Mulmul fabric online, one has to be cautious of authenticity as many clothing items are outsourced from third parties. Ramyata specializes in producing pure cotton Mulmul fabric from handloom and skilled artisans.

Mulmul have recently gained popularity in Indian Society. Bollywood celebrities to social media influencers have been flaunting their Mulmul sarees , creating chic fashion statements  with different drapes in traditional attires, which are refreshing yet rooted to our culture at the same time , resulting to which even common people have found their lost love for Mulmul sarees .. Its is best suited for every age group to fresher party to Office wear to light wedding functions. At Ramyata we a complete range of Mulcotton sarees in plain simple than style to jamdanis… Show us your Mulmul Saree drapestyle on Instagram by tagging us @ramyata_indianfabrics