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 Fabric – we wear it, sleep in it, dry ourselves with it, sit on it, walk on it, keep the cold and daylight out with it, play with it, decorate with it, and even cuddle it! Few people stop to think about how much we rely on textiles in our daily lives – but if you pause a few seconds to consider it, you'll realize we have a serious addiction to fabric! Clothes, carpets, curtains, bedding, upholstery, manchester, toys, furniture, sporting equipment, transport upholstery, even mundane items like ironing board covers and umbrellas – each is made from fabric. Without it we would live uncomfortable, cold and boring lives that lack individuality, creativity and freedom of expression.
But what exactly is it that makes fabric so important to us? Certainly the need to be clothed and comfortable is vital, but why is fabric used in so many different ways? This is all down to the treatment processes used in manufacturing, which have taken simple textiles – blends of cotton, wool, and synthetics – to new heights with safer, healthier, comfier and prettier designs. Without the various treatments and dyeing techniques available, we would be lacking fire-retardant pyjamas, waterproof umbrellas, stain-repellent carpet, fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark colour clothing, and all the variations on softness, flexibility, durability and toughness. Far from being a cottage industry, textile treatment and manufacturing is big business – and so it should be, particularly as we seek new levels of comfort, affordability and attractiveness in our clothes and décor.
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