ABSTRACT In the contemporary textile sector, antimicrobial fabrics have an increasing global interest. This study focused on the development of antimicrobial cotton fabrics impregnated with nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was prepared by nanoparticles of Ag loaded with nano SiO2. As a cutting-edge alternative raw material, Eragrostis teff straw was used to synthesis SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) by sol–gel technique. Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were obtained via green synthesis from silver nitrate (AgNO3) using Ocimum lamiifolium plant extract as a reducing agent. Stőber method was applied to obtain SiO2 impregnated Ag nanocomposite (SiO2@AgNC). The nanocomposite was characterised by different techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, BET, and SEM. Further, SiO2@AgNC was utilised to load in cotton fabric to develop an antimicrobial fabric. The antimicrobial proficiency of developed fabrics was investigated through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) against selected bacterial species, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From the results, the MIC for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli was found to be 0.60 mg/ml, 0.45 mg/mL, and 1.05 mg/ml, respectively. The MBC for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli were found to be and 0.75 mg/ml, and 1.00 mg/ml, and 2.00 mg/ml, respectively. The inferences revealed that the developed fabrics could be applied extensively including healthcare, packaging materials, protective clothing, and others.