Just a Bit of Fiber & Fabric History

NATURAL FIBERS

FLAX 5000+ B.C.

Flax is generally considered to be the oldest natural textile fiber.  Fine linen was used as burial shrouds for the Egyptian pharaohs.  Some of the largest producers and exporters of flax are:  Soviet States, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France and Northern Ireland.

Fine linen is an affordable luxury that can make the simplest table setting look elegant!

COTTON 3000+ B.C.

Earliest use of cotton is estimated between 3,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C.  It was worn by Egyptians earlier than 2,500 B.C.  Egyptian cotton is, to this day, world renown for it's quality.  Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793 revolutionized the processing of cotton.  The development of the power loom in 1884 brought significant improvements and variations to cotton fabrics.  Major producers of cotton are The United States, Soviet States, China and India.  Other countries producing large amounts of cotton are:  Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, Iran and Sudan.
 

WOOL 3000+ B.C.

Used by people of the Late Stone Age.  There are 40 different breeds of sheep, which produce approximately 200 types of wool of varying grades.  Major producers of wool are: Australia, New Zealand, Soviet States, China, South Africa, and Argentina.

SILK 2600+ B.C.

Silk is believed to have been discovered by a Chinese princess.   It is made from two continuous filaments cemented together and used to form the cocoon of the silkworm.  Silk culture began about 1725 B.C., sponsored by the wife of China's emperor.  Secrets of cultivation and fabric manufacturing were closely guarded by the Chinese for about 3,000 years.  India learned of silk culture when a Chinese princess married an Indian prince.  The major producer and exporter of silk is Japan.

Today, silk fibers are considered to make the finest of fabrics.

MAN-MADE FIBERS

RAYON 1910

Rayon is the first man-made fiber.   The first commercial production of rayon fiber in the United States was in 1910 by the American Viscose Company.   By using two different chemicals and manufacturing techniques, two basic types of rayon were developed. They were viscose rayon and cuprammonium rayon.  Today, only viscose rayon is being produced in the U.S.

ACETATE 1924

The first commercial production of acetate fiber in the United States was in 1924 by the Celanese Corporation. 

NYLON 1939

The first commercial production of nylon in the United States was in 1939 by the E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc.  It is the second most used man-made fiber in this country, behind polyester.  The nylon industry was in it's hay-day in the 1940's, when nylon stockings were booming.

ACRYLIC 1950

The first commercial production of acrylic fiber in the United States was in 1950 by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc.  Today, acrylic is a popular low-cost craft fiber.

POLYESTER 1953

The first commercial production of polyester fiber in the United States was in 1953 by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc.  Polyester is the most used man-made fiber in the U.S.  With the exception of the occasional polyester blend and truly magnificent prints, polyester fabrics are not sold at DeWitt & Co.

Many other modern fibers have been developed since polyester... and research continues to develop low-cost, durable and affordable fibers to fit a variety of needs.   It's our opinion, however, that the finest fabrics are still made by Mother Nature!