In 1600, the East India Co. was granted a Royal Charter for the exclusive importation of cotton goods into England and other parts of Europe. Originally, the fabric was intended for industrial uses, such as sacking and sailcloth. Then, in 1670, thin muslin fabrics began to be used in place of the fine linens historically worn. The cotton fabrics were far less expensive than linen, but their quality was very poor, and the garments wore out fairly quickly.
By the end of the 17th century, the East India Co. had flooded Europe with inexpensive, bright and colorful garments that were extremely popular. The cotton became so popular that the wool industry in England began to decline and manufacturers pressured the government to ban the import of cotton. The ban went into place in the late 17th century and lasted until the early 18th century, yet cotton continued to be imported.
Muslin was introduced to Europe during the late 17th century, becoming very popular in France in the early 18th century. In fact, a portrait of Marie Antoinette was known as her "muslin" portrait. The fabric was unbleached or white fabric that was very light and allowed air to pass through. This made it a very popular material in dry, hot climates.
Another popular type of cotton used extensively in the 17th century was denim. Imported from France and Italy, this fabric was very popular with poor people because it was less expensive than other kinds of cotton fabric. In France, the fabric was known as "toile de Genes." In England, it was known as "genes," which resulted in the modern-day term "jeans." Italians dyed the fabric with indigo to get the rich, blue color, while the French used an older dye known as woad.