History of Textiles and Clothing

 

Clothing is one of the basic needs of humans just like food, water, and air. Textiles are one of the oldest activities of humans. Even after the modernization of textiles and machinery, there are 4 basic steps that are the same as ancient clothing procedures. Which are as follow:

·         Harvesting and cleaning cotton or wool

·         Carding and spinning into threads

·         Weave these threads into cloth

·         Fashion and sew the cloth into garments

Ancient Textile Materials

·         Wool

·         Linen

·         Cotton

·         Silk

·         Hemp

·         Flax

·         Jute

In ancient times, silk and fine linen were supposed to be the symbol of high class, while cotton and thick linen were cheaper. Hemp in Greek and Latin terminology was cannabis that led to the word canvas as hemp was used for making sails of boats.    Flax or fine linen was used for burial shrouds of Egyptian pharaohs. Similarly, nettle was used for making fishing nets in olden times.

India is rich in plant resources and the use of a variety of natural fibers such as banana, pineapple, sisal, hemp, coconut, palm, grasses, etc was widely prevalent in olden times. Their use became limited once cotton acquired the prime status of plant fibers. In cotton production, organic cotton accounts for a very small percentage of total cotton production. Silk, linen, and jute are other natural fibers that have continued to enjoy popularity.

Ancient Textile Machinery

Spinning

 Hand spinning, Spindle spinning, Spinning wheels, Distaff, Spindle whorl, Saxony wheel, are the ancient methods used for spinning yarn.

While after the industrial revolution, Spinning Jenny (1764), Spinning frame, Water Frame, Sinning Mule (1779), Flyer Spinning.  Ring Spinning (1828), Cap spinning.  Open End Spinning (20^th century) Repco self twist Spinning, Twist less Spinning, Spinning Folding, Front Folding, Jet Spinning, Bobtex ABS, Bobtec ICS  were introduced.

 

Weaving

A.      Handloom

B.      Power loom

 

A. Handloom

·         Primitive loom

·         Pit loom

·         Frame loom

·         Chittaranjan loom

·         Hattersley loom

B. Power loom

·         Air-jet loom

·         Water jet loom

·         Rapier loom

·         Multiphase loom

 

Interesting Fact!

The English words "cotton" and "mohair," and "taffeta" and "seersucker," derive, respectively, from Arabic and Persian.