Chintz

Printed cotton fabric of Indian origin. A thin layer of starch makes it shiny and waterproof. The name comes from Hindi (chint). Already used in furnishings during the 1600s, printed according to the taste of the time (flowers, fruits, and strongly colored birds), chintz, from the time of British rule in India, began to be produced also in England and Ireland, and from there it spread throughout Europe. With the introduction of plastic, chintz began to be used less frequently in practical furnishings, although fashion makes use of its light weight for Summer styles and for raincoats, either in strong colors or solid black, in a waxed version with satin effects.