History of Clothing Material: Types and Origin
The history of clothing materials spans millennia, from early natural fibers like flax and wool used in ancient civilizations to modern synthetic fabrics developed in the 20th century, reflecting advances in technology and cultural preferences worldwide.
Jasdeep Bhatia2 Jul, 2024
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History of Clothing Material: Have you ever thought of what fabrics people wore in ancient times? People used to dwell in jungles and didn't wear garments back then. Following that, they began wearing clothes to protect their bodies from various adverse climatic conditions such as winter cold and summer heat. Here, let us further explore how clothing and fabrics evolved in history.
Clothing and Textile - History
Clothing has evolved much over time. It is said that people used to wrap themselves with the bark and large leaves of trees, or animal skins and furs. Later, people learned to weave twigs and grass into mats and baskets after settling in agricultural settlements. They weaved animal fleece, long strands of vines, and the hair of animals together. These were used to make fabrics. There is no official record of when people first began to wear garments. According to some estimates, people began wearing garments around one million years ago. Despite the lack of formal records, much evidence suggests that the earliest humans to wear garments were the Neanderthals (an extinct species that played an essential role in human evolution).History of Clothing in Various Regions
Clothing history differs in different regions based on climate, physiography, agriculture, and other sources. The early Indians wore garments made of cotton grown near the Ganga river. Flax is also another common plant product that was used as natural fibres. Cotton and flax were also cultivated near the Nile in ancient Egypt and were used to make fabrics. Likewise, China records the oldest evidence of silk manufacturers in history. Silkworms were mostly domesticated at the Yangshao culture sites in Shanxi (North China region).History of Clothing in India
In the Indian subcontinent, clothing can be traced back to the Indus Valley culture or earlier. Indians traditionally wore garments made of locally grown cotton. Cotton was farmed and utilised in India as early as 2500 BCE during the Harappan era. Remains of ancient Indian clothes have also been discovered in cave paintings, rock-cut sculptures, and human art forms found in temples, monuments, and figurines excavated near the Indus Valley civilisation. These scriptures depict human figures dressed in clothing that can be wrapped around the body. Just like traditional Indian garments such as dhoti, saree, and turban are generally tied around the body in various forms.The Origin of Fabrics
Stitching was not familiar back then. The clothes or fabrics were simply draped around various body regions in various ways. Clothing such as a dupatta, saree, dhoti, and so on are still unstitched pieces of cloth draped about the body. People began stitching materials to produce garments with the development of the sewing needle. Stitched clothing has evolved significantly since its introduction. Fabrics are created from spinning fibres into yarns that have been subsequently looped, netted, knitted, or woven. Also, fabric extraction and weaving were known to be initially practised in the Middle East during the late stone age.| Cotton Rolls → Fibre → Yarns → Fabrics |
Glyolysis and Glycolytic Pathway
Types of Fabric
The fashion and textile sectors are now among the largest in the world. In addition to natural plant fibres and animal skin, which were initially utilised, artificial fibres such as polyester, nylon, and others are now employed to manufacture various types of clothing. Thus fabrics can be broadly classified into two types:- Natural Fabrics
- Artificial Fabrics
Genetically Modified Organisms Ethical Issues
What was the earliest fabric used in India?
As per records, the earliest fabric used in India is cotton. Indians traditionally wore garments made of locally sourced cotton. Even during the Harappan time, India was among the first regions wherein cotton was cultivated and used.
What is the origin of fabrics?
Fabric making dates back to ancient times when primitive people utilised flax fibres, split them into strands and sewn them into simple garments. They also coloured them with plant dyes. To solve some of the limitations of natural fibres, innovators later created synthetic fabrics.
Where do textile materials come from?
Fabric sources are broadly of 2 types - Natural and synthetic. Plants and animals provide natural fibres like cotton (cotton plants) and silk (silkworms). Whereas synthetic fibres are made entirely by man.
What is spinning?
Spinning involves the act of twisting together single strands of fibre to make yarn. The yarn is then spun into fabrics, which are used to make garments and various other things.
What is the difference between weaving and knitting?
Knitting is the process of transforming thread (or yarn) into a cloth. It is made up of sequentially run loops or stitches of the material. Contrarily, weaving combines two kinds of yarn or threads running in opposite directions to create a fabric or cloth.
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