he British arrived, South India's Coromandel coast was famed for its handwoven cottons. The checked patterns of Madras fabric, linked to Tamil cultural symbols like grids, became iconic. This lightweight material's appeal lay in its vibrant vegetable dyes and rustic texture, embodying both tradition and sustainability
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231103-how-madras-check-became-a-preppy-style-essential