Global Legacies of Madras

Around the world, Madras has continually been re-interpreted in accordance with new fashions. The 20th century designs of American brands such as Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren, who developed new styles inspired by African Caribbean Madras fashions, have become among the most globally influential.

In the 1970s Prasan Shah’s grandfather started PS Apparels, which supplied factory-woven Madras to leading American fashion brands. Today Prasan has taken the family business in a new direction with The Original Madras Trading Company. OMTC uses authentic handloom Madras produced Madras produced on site in Madras (now Chennai) to create internationally designed menswear.