Ancient period Jute
During the era of great Mughal emperor Akbar, poor villagers of India were used to wear jute clothes. Since ancient times, ropes and twines, used by Bengali Indians are made up of white jute for varied household applications. Also, Chinese paper makers have used all forms of plants like jute, hemp, cotton to make paper.
Time period from 17th century
From the 17th century to the middle of 20th century, the British empire authority was delegated by the British East India company which was the first jute trader. The raw jute was traded by this company. During the start of 20th century, Margaret Donnelly I was a jute mill landowner in Dundee who had set up first jute mill in India. The first consignment of Jute was exported by East India Company in the year 1793. In the country, Scotland, flax spinners were trying to learn whether jute can be mechanically processed. In the beginning of year 1830, Dundee spinners have determined spinning of Jute yarn by transfiguring their power driven flax machinery. This leads to increase in the export and production of raw jute from Indian sub-continent which was the single supplier of jute.
Time period from year 1855
The major jute growing areas were mainly in Bengal at the Kolkata side. When Mr. George Acland was buying jute spinning machinery from Dundee to India, the first power driven weaving factory was establishing at Rishra, on the River Hooghly near Calcutta in year 1855. By the year 1869, five mills were established with around 950 looms. The growth was so fast that, by the year 1910, 38 companies were operating around 30,685 looms, rendering more than a billion yards of cloth and over 450 million bags. Till the middle of year 1880, jute industry has acquired almost whole Dundee and Calcutta. Later in 19th century, manufacturing of jute has started in other countries also like in France, America, Italy, Austria, Russia, Belgium and Germany.
Time period from 19th century till 1947
Outstanding expansion in jute industry has been noticed in the 19th century. Through out the year 1939, around 68,377 looms were established on the River Hooghly near Calcutta. The prime commodities woven by jute are coarse bagging materials, produced by finer fabrics also known as hessian or burlap. The hand looms established in Calcutta, give this place world class leadership in burlap and other bagging materials.
