What Are Textiles? A Look at the History of Making Textiles
What forms the fabric of culture? It's a sweeping and finely nuanced idea that covers a wide array of diverse representations. Unquestionably, a thorough definition of culture would be deficient without including textiles.
What are textiles? The term is derived from the Latin word "textilis" meaning something woven. In time, the word "textiles" came to mean the materials used to create a woven piece. That means textiles are considered to be organic fibers that come from nature, like cotton, flax and wool, as well as synthetic (man-made) fibers.
In a cave in Siberia, sewing needles dating to at least 50,000 years old have been discovered. Many other prehistoric needle specimens from 41,000 to 15,000 years ago have been discovered, including in Slovenia, Russia, China, Spain, and France.
A skirt made of fabric or twisted fiber is shown on the 25,000-year-old Venus figurine "Venus of Lespugue" which was discovered in the Pyrenees in southern France. Some Western European sculptures had belts around their waists, a band of fabric wrapped around the body just above the breast, and some had basket hats or caps on them.
In Peru's Guitarrero Cave, the first cloth in South America was uncovered. It dates back to 8,000 BCE and was made from plant fiber.
Since around 3400 BC, textiles were a common commodity among the ancient Egyptians. The first textile, linen, was made by the Egyptians from flax that was harvested along the Nile's banks. The wall murals in the pyramids depict the arduous process of gathering flax, spinning it into thread, and then weaving the fibers on a loom. Everything from sophisticated royal attire to peasant loincloths to the sails of their ships was made of linen in ancient Egypt. Fabric made of linen was used by both the living and the dead. Rich Egyptian embalmers utilized linen strips for their embalming procedures. The first textile had an impact on every aspect of Egyptian society, from daily life to the afterlife.
Beginning about 2600 BC, China began spinning and weaving silk while the Egyptians were gathering flax. Chinese tradition claims that Empress His-Ling Shi discovered silk as a potential fabric. According to the legend, a silkworm's cocoon fell into the Empress' cup as she was sipping tea beside a mulberry tree. The Empress saw the unraveling of the cocoon as it exposed its glittering fibers, which were later woven into silk. Although silk was originally a material only available to emperors and empresses, it eventually spread to the lower classes and, with the development of the silk way, to Europe.
The members of the royal court were dressed in exquisite silks and taffetas, but in the Middle Ages, a more practical fiber was used to make textiles. Sheep's wool was used by the lower classes to make warm, enduring garments. Natural dyes were frequently employed to color these practical garments for the first time in textile history. For their durability and warmth, leather and fur were also employed.
Textiles were woven or spun by hand up to the turn of the 20th century. Throughout the majority of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, two major types of looms dominated textile production from prehistory until the early Middle Ages. They are the two-beam loom and the warp-weighted loom. The breadth of the cloth wove on the loom, which might be as wide as 2-3 meters, was determined by the length of the beam.
The power loom was invented as a result of the steam engine. The more productive power looms produced cloth of higher grade. This invention has changed working-class people's daily life in addition to having an impact on the development of textiles.
The power loom was only the first of numerous contemporary inventions that have had a lasting impact on the textile sector. Synthetic fibers were first identified and used in textile production in the 1930s. By chemical, spinning, or twisting operations, synthetic fibers are created. The benefits of synthetic fibers are numerous, including their increased sturdiness, ease of maintenance, mold resistance, and lower price.
What Are Textiles? A Manifestation of Culture
Yet to answer "What are textiles" in the fullest sense means going beyond a simple definition of fibers or clothe woven from them.
Textiles are a material manifestation of history, memory, and place, telling the story of people's relationship with each other, their landscape, their culture--as well as chronicling the influences of conquerors, colonists, pilgrims, and trading partners. The world's textiles are rich in colors, symbols, textures, techniques, styles, and uses, and made of materials as varied as the environments in which they are spun, woven, knitted, felted or crocheted.
Creative Expression!
Textile artist Louise Worthy finds her muse in Scottish birds as well as nature in Scotland. Louise lives in one of the interior communities of Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland in the North of Scotland. The art of batik is revealed by designer Edwina Assan of Ghana, who explains the batik dyeing process, her inspirations, and the merits of handmade textiles. Learn how colors of India are created by Mumbai entrepreneur who recycles floral offerings from Hindu temples into artisanal, hand-dyed organic fabrics.Nature in Scotland Inspires Textile Artist
Art of Batik Revealed by Designer Edwina Assan of Ghana
Organic Fabrics Made From Temple Flowers In India
Tradition and Identity
Bunad, or Norwegian folk costumes, are more than handcrafted clothes. Learn about the cultural significance of Norway’s traditional dress! There lies a story behind every cross stitch that manifests into a cross stitch pattern. Here is the story of Zeina Saba Nabbout from Lebanon. Mardi Gras Indian culture & traditions are revealed by Cherice Harrison-Nelson, co-founder of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, New Orleans. The history of Croatia comes alive in this powerful interview that reveals the dramatic past of life in Konavle Valley in the Balkans. The Fiber Arts Trail is a gathering of New Mexico’s rural cultural tourism advocates, & is home to Victory Ranch – known for its 300 Alpacas. The Zapotec people are known for their traditional rug weaving. Meet father and son tradition-bearers and learn how they define their work. The culture of Guatemala is home to the Kaqchikel people, an indigenous Mayan group. Their lives revolve around family, tradition and food. Guatemalan culture is perhaps best exhibited at the Chichicastenango market, where there are vibrant textiles, fabulous masks, and more. The textiles of Guatemala are for sale at Nim Po’t, home of the world’s largest retail Mayan textile collection. Hear from the manager, Marco! Lefkara lace making is an endangered 15th century tradition in Cyprus. It’s intertwined with people’s identities, economics and social life.Explore Norway’s Bunad Tradition of Norwegian Folk Costumes
The Smallest Cross Stitch in a Masterpiece of Cross Stitch Pattern
Insights on Culture of Mardi Gras Indians From Standard-Bearer
Unique Hand Embroidery Traditions Tell Story of Croatia’s Konavle Valley
New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail
Father and Son Weavers Share Traditions of Zapotec People
Kaqchikel Culture of Guatemala Based on Family and Traditions
Guatemalan Culture Abounds at Chichicastenango Market
Textiles of Guatemala Offer Meaning and Symbolism of Traditions
Lefkara Lace of Cyprus and the Pattern of Tradition