Choosing Fabric

Here are some fast facts you may not know about fabric:

  1. The oldest and longest-used textile fabric is believed to be “flax,” from a flowering plant, and was in use as far back as 5,000 B.C.
  1. Microfiber is the thinnest of all fibers, even thinner than silk, and was only first publicized in 1990s Sweden before spreading throughout Europe and the world.
  1. Wool and cotton were used to produce natural fabrics as early as 3,000 B.C., while silks were produced in China by around 2,500 B.C.
  1. Egyptian cotton is among the most widely-coveted cotton in the world due to Egypt’s unique and highly-suitable growing conditions, resulting in impressive length, strength, softness, and durability.
  1. Nylon, first produced in 1938, is a man-made fiber and is known for its strength, resilience, and resistance to abrasion.
  1. The average lifespan of a piece of fabric clothing is only about three years.
  1. Man-made fibers are only about 130 years old, and the first to be sold commercially was “rayon,” an artificial silk, in 1905.
  1. Secondhand clothing is used by more than 70% of the world’s population, and about 50% of all collected clothing and shoes become secondhand clothing.
  1. The most common form of cotton fabric is called “chintz,” which originated in south-central India in the 1500s.
  2. Nearly 100% of clothing and textiles are recyclable.