History of National Textiles Day
Textiles have been impacting our lives since the late Paleolithic era, with the discovery of dyed flax fibers in a cave in the Republic of Georgia dating back around 34,000 years. Prior to textiles becoming widespread and accessible, humans would have used things like animal skin, leaves, and bark as clothing to protect themselves from the elements.
Textiles are made by spinning raw fibers into long, twisted lengths to create a flexible network of yarns. These yarns are then made into fabrics by means of weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, tatting, felting, bonding, or braiding these yarns together. They are formed into the clothes we put on daily, the bedding we sleep on, the material that covers our furniture, and the rugs we use all over the house. Even the canvases we paint on are made from textiles.
Environmental sustainability is an overall fighting cause in the modern manufacturing era, and this also applies to textiles. Valley Forge Fabrics is a company dedicated to living and working harmoniously with the environment. They have been creating sustainable textiles for many years.
Dan and Judy Dobin opened Valley Forge in May 1977, in Pennsylvania. A year after, they relocated to New York, taking Valley Forge and their five children with them. In 1980, they ventured into the hospitality business and never looked back. In 1991, they created their first set of sample books to be sent to hotels to enable them to choose the fabrics that they wanted to use for their upholstery. A year after, the Dobin family packed up again and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 2007, they launched their first major grouping of FRESH products or Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality. They are the creators of National Textiles Day.
Chair is by Stitched in Color - https://www.stitchedincolor.com/blog/2019/9/20/mr-patchwork-chair
Isn't it wonderful to be part of an industry that is so important! I am still amazing when I have cloth and then when I get done, it is something useful. Blows my mind!
