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 Natural fibres extend way back into the past. Out of cotton, wool, silk and flax - the most popular to be used in the production of textiles - it is widely known that flax is the most ancient of all. As long ago as 3400 B.C., man was producing linen cloth in Egypt. This has been confirmed by what has been discovered in tombs and burial places relating to that era. Mummified remains and ancient artefacts have been discovered wrapped in linen. It may amaze you to know that the linen discovered was very finely woven even compared to today’s standards. When man took to the seas and travelled to neighbouring countries and beyond, he also took with him the knowledge of textile production. This together with a need to live and trade with other cultures, spread the art of textile manufacture (albeit in a primitive form), across Europe and beyond.
- Weaving threads and yarn to form a fabric had its roots thousands of years ago. The first attempts were made using grasses and leaves weaved together to form a coarse fabric.
- String was developed 20,000 to 30,000 years ago in the Old Stone Age by twisting plant fibres together.
Although today most of our fabric is commercially produced on automated machines, there are still many people around the world who are keeping the old tradition alive by practising the art on hand-driven looms. You will see this in action if you travel to the Far East and Asia.
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