Fabric

Fabric is cloth or other material produced by weaving together cotton, nylon, silk, wool, or other threads. 

The pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore garments made with thin threads of beaten gold. Some fabrics had up to 500 gold threads per one inch of cloth.

Sunlight is the oldest known bleaching agent. The ancient Hebrews and Egyptians dipped their fabrics in water and set them out in the sun to bleach.

The Japanese of the 3rd century BC developed the technique of weaving a design into cloth. They wove colored and metallic threads into elaborate patterns of birds and flowers . These fabrics, called damasks or brocades, are still used in fine clothing.

The term 'blanket' arose from the generalization of a specific fabric called Blanket fabric, a heavily napped woolen weave pioneered by Thomas Blanket (Blanquette), a Flemish weaver who lived in Bristol, England in the 14th century

Knitting became popular after Queen Elizabeth I of England was presented with a pair of knitted silk stockings. By the beginning of the 17th century, it had become an accepted form of fabric making in Great Britain. Silk stockings and woolen caps were the most desired garments.

Isaac M. Singer, the inventor of the sewing machine, also patented the spring-equipped presser foot for holding down the fabric while sewing.

The word 'gauze' is derived from 'Gaza', which is where the lightweight cotton fabric is thought to have originated.

Shahtoosh, a fabric made from the wool of the Tibetan antelope, is illegal to own, sell, or import in most countries, including the United States. This is because the Tibetan antelope is an endangered species, and the harvesting of their wool has a significant impact on their population.

Shahtoosh is prized for its incredible softness and warmth. It is said to be the finest and most luxurious natural fiber in the world, even finer than cashmere. However, the harvesting of shahtoosh wool is a very cruel and destructive process. 

Jeans are made from a tough cotton fabric known as serge de Nimes.

Source Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc