Upholstery Fabric History

Natural fibers have been used for home fashion for thousands of years, with the use of wool going back over 4,000 years. One can only drool at what it might be like to have some thousands of years old Designer Fabrics in one's possession. In comparison, the man-made fiber industry began with the first commercial production of rayon in 1910, primarily used for upholstery fabric.

For those old enough to remember the 50's and 60's, this was when there was a great deal of Upholstery Fabric development technology happening in the man-made fiber industry. And with the great popularity of Drapery Fabric and Upholstery Material, the technology to develop new Designer Fabric continues even today. Microfibers, fibers finer than the finest silk, were developed in 1989 and lyocell, was developed in 1993.

Today, many man-made fibers, including polyester have been developed into beautiful designer fabrics that are being used by major designers for the purpose of making ultra strong yet soft Drapery Fabric and Upholstery Fabrics. It is believed discovered by a Chinese princess. Silk is made from two continuous filaments cemented together and used to form the cocoon of the silkworm.

Silk culture began about 1725 BC, sponsored by the wife of China's emperor and was woven into upholstery cloth early on. Secrets of cultivation and cloth manufacturing were closely guarded by the Chinese for about 3,000 years. There is a story that two monks smuggled seeds of the mulberry tree and silkworm eggs out of China by hiding them in their walking sticks. The major producer and exporter of silk is Japan and the major weavers of silk as Designer Fabric, Upholstery Fabric and Drapery Fabric are in India.

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