The introduction of the jacket probably influenced the popularity of Chintz,a colourful cotton fabric decorated with exotic flower patterns and with a glazed finish, in the Netherlands. This originally hand-painted and polished cotton came in the seventeenth century from India to Europa. Later, printing technics came in use to imitate the designs and to satisfy increasing demands. The jacket, also known as a casaque, kasakijntje or caraco was worn in combination with a muslin fichu, sometimes with very fine embroidery and combined with a silk, quilted or otherwise embellished skirt in a contrasting colour. It is one of the only historical national costumes which was worn by women from every level of society during the Dutch Republic. Although chintz jackets were worn as day and formal wear by domestic servants, fisherwomen and richer farmer’s wives, the upper classes only wore them as a negligee (indoor dress). When lighter and brighter fabrics came into fashion at the end of the eighteenth century, an end came to the chintz rage. At the same time the jacket remained fashionable and cherished within the Frisian and Zaanse regional costumes.