This document provides a history of textiles from ancient times to present day. It describes how textiles originated over 100,000 years ago and were made from materials like flax, cotton, silk and hemp in ancient Egypt, India, China and Japan. Synthetic fibers like nylon were later introduced in the 20th century. While the basic processes of weaving, knitting and felting textiles have not changed substantially since the 14th century, equipment and manufacturing methods have modernized and sped up production.

1. History of Textiles

2. History…
• Textiles-defined as the yarns that are woven or
knitted to make fabrics
• Textiles date back to the Stone Age around
100,000 years ago whereas cotton use dates
back to 5,000 B.C.
• Silk Road in ancient world = a way to sell textiles
• Although simple clothing was worn at first,
dyeing methods developed and clothing started
to become more elaborate

3. Places and what was developed
• Ancient Egypt = flax
• Ancient India = cotton
• Ancient China = silk
• Ancient Japan = hemp, method of weaving, cloth
made from bark fibers

4. Flax

5. Cotton

6. Silk

7. Textiles
• Textiles can be derived from several sources: animals, plants
and minerals are the traditional sources of materials
• Petroleum-derived synthetic fibers were introduced in the
mid-20th century.
• Animal textiles are the most prevalent in human society
• Plant textiles, the most common being cotton, can also be
made from straw, grass and bamboo.
• Mineral textiles include glass fiber, metal fiber and asbestos.
• The recent introduction of synthetic textiles has greatly
expanded the array of options available for fabric
manufacturers, both in terms of garment versatility and
usability.

8. History of Nylon
• Synthetic fabric that was invented in 1938 by
Wallace Carothers
• Direct result of WWII – parachutes were originally
silk
• The term “nylon” is a generic descriptor for the
family of synthetic polymers known as polyamides
• Used in the 91940s for stockings and tooth brushes
• Now today used in many things such as guitar
strings, tooth brushes and carpets

9. Recent Methods for Making Textiles Today
• Weaving
• Knitting
• Interlacing
• Lacing
• Felting

10. Today
• By the 14th century, fabrics were being woven on
the hand looms of the Mediterranean countries
in practically all the basic structures known to
modern artisans
• No change in fundamental processes since that
time
• Ways to manufacture textiles that have not
changed: plain weave, satin weave and twill
• Equipment and machines have sped production
up