Here are some fast facts you may not know about fabric:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nylon, first produced in 1938, is a man-made fiber and is known for its strength, resilience, and resistance to abrasion.
- The average lifespan of a piece of fabric clothing is only about three years.
- Man-made fibers are only about 130 years old, and the first to be sold commercially was “rayon,” an artificial silk, in 1905.
- 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.
- The most common form of cotton fabric is called “chintz,” which originated in south-central India in the 1500s.
- Nearly 100% of clothing and textiles are recyclable.