Color pattern
Madras check
A colorful checked cotton cloth tradition associated with Chennai, formerly Madras.
Also searched as: madras plaid, bleeding madras, patchwork madras
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
Colored yarn bands create checks with varied widths and color combinations. Patchwork madras joins pieces of checked cloth, while bleeding madras identifies a dye behavior rather than every modern example.
How to recognize it
Look for lively multicolor crossings and an airy shirting appearance; patchwork versions have actual seams.
Common uses
- Summer shirts
- Shorts
- Casual jackets
What to distinguish
A madras-looking print does not establish Indian manufacture or handweaving. Not every madras cloth is designed to release dye.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.