How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?

Earlier, the East India Company had found it difficult to ensure a regular supply of goods for export. The French, Dutch, Portuguese as well as the local traders competed in the market to secure woven cloth. So the weaver and supply merchants could bargain and try selling the produce to the best buyer. However, once the East India Company established political power, it could assert a monopoly right to trade. It proceeded to develop a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control costs, and ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk goods. Following steps were taken:

1. Company tried to eliminate the existing traders and brokers connected with the cloth trade, and establish a more direct control over the weaver by appointing gomastha a paid servant called to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth.
2. Company prevented its weavers from dealing with other buyers. One way of doing this was through the system of advances. Once an order was placed, the weavers were given loans to purchase the raw material for their production. Those who took loans had to hand over the cloth they produced to the gomastha. They could not take it to any other trader.