Back To Materials

The Origins and Production of Cloth

Cloth is made up of a network of natural or artificial thread or yarn, formed by weaving, knitting or pressed into felt. It is most often used for manufacturing clothes, furnishings and arts (e.g. tapestry).

Initially, before woven cloth came into existence, furs and skins were used. Then, as weaving was introduced, the cloth was made from natural fibres, such as cotton, flax and hemp, and animal sources, such as wool, hair and silk. Nowadays, many artificial fibres are used, such as polyester and rayon.

Cloth is most often dyed, with fabrics available in every colour. Coloured designs in fabric can be created by weaving strands of different colours (plaid) and embroidering coloured stitches on to the finished fabric. Also, the coloured patterns, or pictures can be added by using various printing processes on finished fabric.

Cloth is made in many varying strengths and degrees of durability, from the finest gossamer fabrics to sturdy canvas sails. The relative thickness of fibres in cloth is measured in deniers. Microfibre refers to fibres made of strands thinner than 1 denier.