Cotton Textiles and Corporate Buyers in Cottonopolis

Cotton textiles and corporate buyers in cottonpolis analyses the once prosperous export trade in cotton textiles and its effect on the economy of Gujarat, particularly of the cotton growing and textile manufacturing broach region, in the 17and 18 centuries—a contrast of light and shade, of rise and fall of fortunes. Two European corporate buyers, the English East India Company and Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (The Dutch East India Company VOC), had sub-factories at broach during these two centuries, working almost as an extension of the main factories at Surat, for procuring various textile products, cotton yarn and cotton for export. The analysis of the price trends of a dozen varieties of cotton textiles of the broach region, during these 200 years, under 15 economy-sensitive periods is a unique attempt. In addition the price movements of cotton yarn, cotton and Jambusar indigo, have also been examined. Data collected supports the view that though exports from the port of Surat declined in the 18 century, the volume of textile manufactures in the region and the purchases by the European companies continued the healthy trends of the latter half of the 17 century, well beyond the middle of the 18 century, until raw cotton exports to China and Bengal, changed priorities.