Grameen check (Bengali:গ্রামীণ চেকgramin chek "rural plaid") is a type of clothing design inBangladesh. It mainly constitutes a pattern of squares or rectangles formed from different colors ofdyed threads. Clothes with grameen check designs are mainly made ofcotton fabric woven in the traditional methods by the cottage-industry workers in Bangladesh. These types of clothes are very popular in Bangladesh because they are bright in color and comfortable to wear.[1] It is marketed globally by 'Grameen Uddog'.[2]
Grameen check was pioneered byGrameen Bank founder andNobel Peace Prize winner Dr.Muhammad Yunus. The clothes and the designs were products of the same small-industry weavers he helped throughGrameen Bank.
Most of the fabric of grameen check comes directly from the traditional weavers of rural Bangladesh. The popularity of grameen check means that these small businesses are thriving and weavers (mostly from traditional weaver families) are earning money from the work they are good at, rather than having to migrate to towns and cities for other jobs.