In the first of its kind, the Evening Standard had organised a short evening seminar to discuss the role of textiles in Interior Design. Attended by about 70 people it gave a brief, but enlightening insight into the Indian textiles and the role of fabrics in Interior Design.

The Victoria & Albert Museum has the world's largest collection of Indian textiles with nearly 10,000 pieces from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as a modern day collection. It also has a dedicated gallery - sadly with only one percent of this extensive collection - on permanent display. Dedicated to Jawharlal Nehru, the V&A is worth a visit simply to see this one percent.

Interestingly, Rosemary Crill, deputy curator of South Asian Textiles for the museum, outlined how she came to specialise in this area. Originally an Islamic Art expert she found few jobs that required these skills and came to the V&A to initially catalogue part of their collection. It is possible for members of the public to view the V&A hidden collection, but you need to make an appointment with Rosemary's department and wait about a week.

For lovers of textiles and students of design, a private viewing is highly recommended. Even during this short thirty minute session we saw simple embroidered cushion covers, intricately woven Benares silks, Jaipuri gold leaf block prints, original Kashmiri and Pashmina shawls, wax-dyed batik fabrics and of course, chintz.

The word "chintz" derived from the gujarati word "chitta" (spotted). Abbreviated to chitz it eventually became chintz and a whole industry devoted to floral patterns was born! Apart from fabrics, the Nehru Gallery also features sculpture and Art and the V&A bookshop as some great books on art, textiles and design.

Click here to read about Books about South Asian Arts that you can buy at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

See the Redhotcurry Events Calendar for future V & A Lectures.