THE HISTORY OF FABRIC MAKING
The History of Fabric Making
The history of fabric making dates back to the ancient times, where the earliest forms of fabric were in fact woven nets, which were very simple, formed by single threads looping over. A fabric is basically a fibre, yarn or filament which is woven and results in the fabric or cloth. It comes under the generic term, textile which itself is derived from the French word 'texere', which means to weave.
Of course, the earliest forms of fabrics are very rare due to the nature of their perishability, but certain examples do exist. Weaving dates back from Neolithic times, around 5000BCE and is highly likely that weaving preceded the spinning of yarn, due to evidence of weaving in the production of baskets at this time.
In ancient Egypt, fibers such as cotton, flax, and wool were used in producing fabrics, while around 3000BCE in China, silks were used. Cotton was also used in India around the same time.
One use of such fabrics was not only due produce clothing, but to also create art and there are many examples of complex patterns and designs created in the early times. In ancient Rome, there is evidence of dyes being used to turn the fibers into different colors as well.
Within the final millennium before the common era of the history of fabric making, the Chinese too began using printing techniques to further decorate their fabrics, while the Egyptians began using more complex weaving techniques to produce tapestries from both linen and wool. And in Persia (modern day Iran), those famous carpets were being produced around this time too.
During the Middle Ages, the most prolific designs and advances came from the Middle East, from Turkey, India, and the like. In 827CE, Sicily was conquered by Arab forces, and many beautiful fabric designs were produced there, and this led to the early stages of new designs and techniques being introduced within Europe after the Dark Ages.
In 1266, following a French invasion, the weavers from Sicily fled to mainland Italy, to Lucca and the history of fabric making took a new path. The city became well renowned for the production of beautiful floral silk patterns, but when Lucca was taken over by the Florentines in 1315, these skilled workers were removed to Florence, and the further advances coincided with the birth of the Renaissance period.
By 1500, prosperous weaving and velvet production was prevalent in Florence and had also moved out to Genoa and Venice. The textile industry was flourishing with well over 16,000 skilled silk workers and 30,000 skilled wool weavers.
By the 1400's, fabric production was also beginning to flourish in countries such as France, Germany and England. Francis I of France (who later brought Leonardo Da Vinci to France), was a great lover of fabrics and had brought Italian weavers to France to work under his chief weaver in producing great tapestries.
In the Americas, weaving was already at an advanced stage in both the north and south before the Europeans had arrived, so when the two came together, ideas and techniques were shared.
Up until the time of the industrial revolution, production of fabrics was very much in the cottage industry form. With the invention of great weaving and spinning machines, the whole industry was turned on its head, and mass production of fabrics was finally attained.
The history of fabrics continues with today there being many more efficient and complex forms of machinery that produce fabrics very quickly and very cheaply. The skills of the spinner and weaver are very much lessened, but the art is still kept alive by dedicated people around the world. It will be interesting to see what direction the production of fabrics will take in the future.
The history of fabric making dates back to the ancient times, where the earliest forms of fabric were in fact woven nets, which were very simple, formed by single threads looping over. A fabric is basically a fibre, yarn or filament which is woven and results in the fabric or cloth. It comes under the generic term, textile which itself is derived from the French word 'texere', which means to weave.
Of course, the earliest forms of fabrics are very rare due to the nature of their perishability, but certain examples do exist. Weaving dates back from Neolithic times, around 5000BCE and is highly likely that weaving preceded the spinning of yarn, due to evidence of weaving in the production of baskets at this time.
In ancient Egypt, fibers such as cotton, flax, and wool were used in producing fabrics, while around 3000BCE in China, silks were used. Cotton was also used in India around the same time.
One use of such fabrics was not only due produce clothing, but to also create art and there are many examples of complex patterns and designs created in the early times. In ancient Rome, there is evidence of dyes being used to turn the fibers into different colors as well.
Within the final millennium before the common era of the history of fabric making, the Chinese too began using printing techniques to further decorate their fabrics, while the Egyptians began using more complex weaving techniques to produce tapestries from both linen and wool. And in Persia (modern day Iran), those famous carpets were being produced around this time too.
During the Middle Ages, the most prolific designs and advances came from the Middle East, from Turkey, India, and the like. In 827CE, Sicily was conquered by Arab forces, and many beautiful fabric designs were produced there, and this led to the early stages of new designs and techniques being introduced within Europe after the Dark Ages.
In 1266, following a French invasion, the weavers from Sicily fled to mainland Italy, to Lucca and the history of fabric making took a new path. The city became well renowned for the production of beautiful floral silk patterns, but when Lucca was taken over by the Florentines in 1315, these skilled workers were removed to Florence, and the further advances coincided with the birth of the Renaissance period.
By 1500, prosperous weaving and velvet production was prevalent in Florence and had also moved out to Genoa and Venice. The textile industry was flourishing with well over 16,000 skilled silk workers and 30,000 skilled wool weavers.
By the 1400's, fabric production was also beginning to flourish in countries such as France, Germany and England. Francis I of France (who later brought Leonardo Da Vinci to France), was a great lover of fabrics and had brought Italian weavers to France to work under his chief weaver in producing great tapestries.
In the Americas, weaving was already at an advanced stage in both the north and south before the Europeans had arrived, so when the two came together, ideas and techniques were shared.
Up until the time of the industrial revolution, production of fabrics was very much in the cottage industry form. With the invention of great weaving and spinning machines, the whole industry was turned on its head, and mass production of fabrics was finally attained.
The history of fabrics continues with today there being many more efficient and complex forms of machinery that produce fabrics very quickly and very cheaply. The skills of the spinner and weaver are very much lessened, but the art is still kept alive by dedicated people around the world. It will be interesting to see what direction the production of fabrics will take in the future.
Clerance House
Durallee Fabric
F.Schumacher
Enterprises
NY Textiles & Trim
Kravet
Robert Allen
Fabricut
Lee Jofa
Folia
Fabricut
Fabricade
Durallee Fabric
F.Schumacher
Enterprises
NY Textiles & Trim
Kravet
Robert Allen
Fabricut
Lee Jofa
Folia
Fabricut
Fabricade
Highland Court
J.F Fabrics
Kravet
Knoll
RomoKravet
S. Harris
S.Harris
Stroheim & Roman
S. Harris
Laura Ashley
Michael Textiles
Ashley Wilde
Fabricade
Stout Brothers
J.F Fabrics
Kravet
Knoll
RomoKravet
S. Harris
S.Harris
Stroheim & Roman
S. Harris
Laura Ashley
Michael Textiles
Ashley Wilde
Fabricade
Stout Brothers
Robert Allen
Romo
Ashley Wilde
B. Berger
Manuel Canovas
Duralle
Donghia
F.Schumacher
Lee Jofa
Laura Ashley
Michael Textiles
Michael jon desing
Fabricate
ETC
Scalamandre
Romo
Ashley Wilde
B. Berger
Manuel Canovas
Duralle
Donghia
F.Schumacher
Lee Jofa
Laura Ashley
Michael Textiles
Michael jon desing
Fabricate
ETC
Scalamandre
Norbar
Nobilis
Osborne & Little
Pindler & Pindler
Pollack
Romo
Robert Allen
RM. Coco
Stroheim & Roman
Stout
Scalamandre
Jim Thomson
Trend.
Nobilis
Osborne & Little
Pindler & Pindler
Pollack
Romo
Robert Allen
RM. Coco
Stroheim & Roman
Stout
Scalamandre
Jim Thomson
Trend.
