远在16世纪,印度的棉布而非黄金便成了英国商人对马来西亚贸易中的准货币。“印度擦光印花棉布(chintz)”一词源于印度语“染花布(chitta)”,它不仅进入了国际语汇,而且走进了千家万户的衣橱。历经几个世纪的沉浮兴衰,印度棉布在今天再度受到青睐,而且一如几个世纪前一样,仍是由印度的能工巧匠手工染制的。 As far back as the 16th century, Indian cotton, not gold, became the quasi-currency for British merchants trading in Malaysia. The term “Indian chintz” stems from the Hindu “chitta”, which not only enters the international vocabulary, but also enters the wardrobe of tens of thousands of households. After several centuries of ups and downs, Indian cotton is once again favored today and, as it was centuries ago, still hand-dyed by craftsmen from India.