From Madras to New York City Original Madras Trading Company is a family business with a checkered past. My grandfather founded it in the early 1970s, arriving in New York with a trunk full of Madras checks. He set up our office on 38th Street, where we still operate today, supplying renowned American clothing brands. While continuing to trade fabrics and garments from southern India, we’ve launched a handloom project to honor Madras cloth’s deep ties to both American and Indian cultures.