The Toda are an indigenous pastoralist tribe residing in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India. They are very much characterized by unusual cultural constructs and robust traditions of textiles: cotton cloth. Cotton cloth is one of the most important aspects of the Toda heritage-it symbolizes tradition and aesthetic beauty. The cloth is hand-woven by the Todas and it is elaborate in red and black geometric designs over an off white surface from one end to the other. Further adding aesthetic charm to the fabric is the addition of several parallel red stripes. At the other end of the fabric is rather sober but lightened by one black and one red stripe to complement the other end, counterpoint-balanced and contrasting to the cacophonic designs at the other end.

The kind of closeness in which Todo cloth is draped around the body has been maintained with male and female dress, wherein the cloth is considered, not as clothing only, but the cultural identity as well. The fabric-making craftsmanship tradition has been inherited from generation to generation, passing down the fine art of weaving and embroidery to women. At present, Toda embroidery has attained the status of a Geographical Indication (GI) right in India focusing on its cultural value and distinctiveness. Such textiles are being recognized for their simple magnificence and richness in culture worldwide and are soon likely to serve as a link between sustainable fashion and indigenous crafts.