Fabric

I wrote this in 1994 as part of an interpreter training slide show...........

In our time period at the museum fabrics had names like

           

- dimity

           

- dotted swiss

         

- charmeuse - satin - like silk

            

- gabardine - cotton

- duck

           

- pongee

Which came in colours with 

names like...

            

 - tango

           

- lipstick red

           

- snuff

           

- toreador

... and my favourite - 'mountain mist' ( a colour akin to clover )

            But whatever the name or colour the fabric was given they

could have only been made of cotton, wool, silk or linen.  

       All of these fabrics come from natural fibres. he blending, waving and treatment of these fibres gave the fabrics its look, texture and trade name.

            

 On today's market these fabrics are again becoming increasingly 

popular and therefore are more readily available.  The prices are 

also less expensive than they were just a few years ago.  There is 

one more fabric that we can add to this list and that is rayon.   

Rayon got its trade name in 1924 and is a very useful and 

affordable fabric for woman's costume.

            

 Count Hillare De Chardonnet in 1884 - Chardonnet silk, artificial 

silk or art silk.

           

Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Inspiration

The Deco Rose