Textiles

The different types of textiles:

1) Cotton
2) Wool
3) Silk
4) Nylon
5) Polyester
A textile is a cloth, which is either woven by hand or machine. "Textile" has
traditionally meant, "a woven fabric". The term comes from the Latin word texture,
meaning to weave.
Fibers are raw materials for all fabrics. Some fibers Cotton is often used to make
towels. Occur in nature as fine strands that can be twisted into yarns. These natural
fibers come from plants, animals, and minerals. For most of history, people had only
natural fibers to use in making cloth. But modern science has learned how to produce
fibers by chemical and technical means. Today, these manufactured fibers account for
more than two-thirds of fibers processed by U.S. textile mills.
Plants provide more textile fibers than do animals or minerals. Cotton fibers produce
soft, absorbent fabrics that are widely used for clothing, sheets, and towels. Fibers of
flax plant are made into linen. strength and beauty of linen have made it a popular
fabric for fine tablecloths, napkins, and handkerchiefs.
The main animal fiber used for textiles is wool. Another animal fiber, silk, produces one
of the most luxurious fabrics. Sheep supply most of the wool, but members of
Clothings made of silk. The camel family and some goats also furnish wool. Wool
provides warm, comfortable fabrics for dresses, suits, and sweaters. Silk comes from
cocoons spun by silkworms. Workers unwind the cocoons to obtain long, natural
filaments. Fabrics made from silk fibers have great luster and softness and can be
dyed brilliant colors. Silk is especially popular for scarfs and neckties.
Shirts made of polyester. Most manufactured fibers are made from wood pulp, cotton
linters, or petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are chemicals made from crude oil and
natural gas. The chief fibers manufactured from petrochemicals include nylon,
polyester, acrylic, and olefin. Nylon has exceptional strength, wears well, and is easy
to launder. It is popular for hosiery and other clothing and for carpeting and upholstery.
Such products as conveyor belts and fire hoses are also made of nylon. Woven fabric
consists of two sets of yarns.
Most textiles are produced by twisting fibers into yarns and then knitting or weaving
yarns into a fabric. This method of making cloth has been used for thousands of years.
But throughout most of that time, workers did twisting, knitting, or weaving largely by

hand. With today's modern machinery, textile mills can manufacture as much fabric in
a few seconds as it once took workers weeks to produce by hand.
Woven fabrics are made of two sets of yarns - a lengthwise set called the warp and a
crosswise set called the filling or weft. The warp yarns are threaded into a loom
through a series of frames called harnesses. A knitted fabric has a single yarn or a set
of yarns. During the cloth-making process, the harnesses raise some warp yarns and
lower others. This action creates a space, or shed, between the yarns. A device called
a shuttle carries the filling through the shed and so forms the crosswise yarns of the
fabric. The pattern in which the harnesses are raised and lowered for each pass of the
shuttle determines the kind of weave.
Knitted fabrics are made from a single yarn or a set of yarns. In making cloth, a
knitting machine forms loops in the yarn and links them to one another by means of
needles. The finished fabric consists of crosswise rows of loops, called Felt is made
chiefly from fibers of wool, fur or animal hair. courses, and lengthwise rows of loops,
called wales. This looped structure makes knitted fabrics more elastic than woven
cloth. Garment manufacturers use knitted fabrics in producing comfortable,
lightweight clothing that resists wrinkling.
Other fabrics include tufted fabrics, nets and laces, braids, and felt. None of these
fabrics is woven or knitted. However, textile industry produces another class of fabrics
specifically called nonwoven fabrics.

Cotton
Cotton is a soft white fibrous substance covering seeds of certain plants.
History of the use of cotton:
Asiatic cottons first grew wild in East Africa. About 5000 years ago, the people
in what is now Pakistan cultivated cotton. The army of Alexander the Great first
brought cotton goods into Europe in the 300s B.C. but cloth was too expensive
and only the rich could afford it.
The cotton flower. English began to weave cotton in the 1600s. They imported
raw cotton from other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Later, they
imported cotton from southern colonies in America.
In the 1700s, English textile manufacturers developed machines that made it
possible to spin thread and weave cloth into large quantities. Today, the United
States, Russia, China and India are major producers of cotton.

Production of cotton:
When cotton arrives at a textile mill, several blenders feed cotton into cleaning
machines, which mix the cotton, break it into smaller pieces and remove trash.
The cotton is sucked through a pipe into picking machines. Beaters in these
machines strike the cotton repeatedly to knock out dirt and separate lumps of
cotton into smaller pieces.
Cotton then goes to the carding machine, where the fibers are separated. Trash
and short fibers are removed. Some cotton goes through a comber that
removes more short The cross-section of an unopened flower. Fibers and makes
a stronger, more lustrous yarn.
This is followed by spinning processes which do three jobs: draft the cotton, or
reduce it to smaller structures, straighten and parallel the fibers and lastly, put
twist into the yarn. The yarns are then made into cloth by weaving, knitting or
other processes.
After inspectors check cloth, it is passed through a gas flame that singes the
fuzz off its surface. Boiling cloth in an alkaline solution removes natural waxes,
colored substances or discolorations. Then cloth is bleached in hypochlorite or
peroxide. Cloth may then pass through a machine that prints designs on it.
Cloth intended to be solid-colored goes thorough a dye bath.

Care of your cotton garment:

For fabrics made of 100% cotton:
1) Set your washing machine to the low setting.
2) Wash the cloth in cold water.
3) Set your iron to Medium to iron it.
4) Do not bleach the cloth.
5) Hang to dry but do not tumble dry.

50% Cotton and 50% Polyester:

1) Turn it inside out and machine wash with warm water. Dying the cotton
cloth.
2) Wash with fabrics that are of light colors.

3) Use only non-chlorine bleach to bleach the cloth.

4) Tumble dry with a medium setting.
5) Set your iron to medium for ironing.

Properties of the cotton:

1) It is soft and comfortable.
2) It wrinkles easily.
3) It absorbs perspiration quickly.
4) It has good colour retention and is good to print on.
4) Cotton is also strong and durable.

Uses:
Cotton is used to make blouses, shirts, singlets, shorts, bermudas, jackets and
pants. It can also be made into bedspreads, pillowcases, carpets and curtains

Wool
Woolen fabric is made from the fleece of sheep.
History of the use of wool:
Wool was probably the first animal fiber to be made into cloth. The art of spinning wool
into yarn developed about 4000Wool comes from sheep. B.C. and encouraged trade
among the nations in the region of the Mediterranean Sea.
The first wool factory in England was established in 50 A.D. in Winchester by the
Romans. In 1797, the British brought 13 Merino sheep to Australia and started the
country's Merino sheep industry.
There are 40 different breeds of sheep in the world producing a rough estimate of 200
types of wool with varying standards. The major wool producers in the world are
Australia, Argentina, China and South Africa.

Production of Wool:
The processing of wool involves four major steps. First comes shearing, followed by
sorting and grading, making yarn and lastly, making fabric.

In most parts of the world, sheep are sheared once a year, in early spring or early
summer. The best wool comes from the shoulders and sides of the sheep.
This is followed by grading and sorting, where workers remove any stained, damaged
or inferior wool from each fleece and sort the rest of the wool according to the quality
of the fibers. Wool fibers are judged not only on the basis of their strength but also by
their fineness (diameter), length, crimp (waviness) and colour.
An Australian rancher with bales of wool.The wool is then scoured with detergents to
remove the yolk and such impurities as sand and dust. After wool dries, it is carded.
carding process involves passing wool through rollers that have thin wire teeth. The
teeth untangle the fibers and arrange them into a flat sheet called a web. The web is
then formed into narrow ropes known as silvers.
After carding, the processes used in making yarn vary slightly, depending on the
length of the fibers. Carding length fibers are used to make woolen yarn. Combing
length fibers and French combing length fibers are made into worsted yarn.
Woolen yarn, which feels soft, has a fuzzy surface and is heavier than worsted. While
worsted wool is lighter and highly twisted, it is also smoother, and is not as bulky, thus
making it easier to carry or transport about.
Making worsted wool requires a greater number of processes, during which the fibers
are arranged parallel to each other. The smoother the hard-surface worsted yarns, the
smoother the wool it produces, meaning, less fuzziness. Fine worsted wool can be used
in the making of athletics attire, because it is not as hot as polyester, and the weave of
the fabric allows wool to absorb perspiration, allowing the body to "breathe".
Wool manufacturers knit or weave yarn into a variety of fabrics. Wool may also be
dyed at various stages of manufacturing process and undergo finishing processes to
give them desired look and feel.
The finishing of fabrics made of woolen yarn begins with fulling. This process involves
wetting the fabric thoroughly with water and then passing it through the rollers. Fulling
makes the fibers interlock and mat together. It shrinks the material and gives it
additional strength and thickness. Worsteds go through a process called crabbing in
which the fabric passes through boiling water and then cold water. This procedure
strengthens the fabric.

Care of your woolen garment:

Merino wool It is better to hand wash your woolen products. Shampoos can be used to
wash such garments. Use a good shampoo not one containing "crme rinse". If
shampoo can clean your hair without leaving residues, it can clean your woolen
products too. Be careful of what softener you use because softeners may add products
to your wool. Some types of softeners may leave a coating on fiber making it feel
softer and smoother, but at same time causing your wool to lose its absorbency.

Properties of the wool:

1)It is hard wearing and absorbs moisture.
2)It does not burn over a flame but smoulders instead.
3)It is lightweight and versatile.
4)Wool does not wrinkle easily.
5)It is resistant to dirt and wear and tear.

Uses:
Wool is used to make sweaters, dresses, coats, suits, jackets, pants and the lining of
boots.It can also be made into blankets and carpets.

Silk
Silk is the fine strong soft lustrous fiber produced by silkworms.
History of the use of silk:
The Chinese has used silk since the 27th century B.C.. Silk is mentioned by Aristotle
and became a valuable commodity both in Greece and Rome. During the Roman
Empire, silk was sold for its weight in gold. The Chinese silkworm spinning its cocoon.
domesticated silk worms and fed them with mulberry leaves. They unwound the
silkworms' cocoons to produce long strands of silk fiber.
Farm women in China at that period were supposed to raise such silkworms as one of
their chores. Silk was used in China and exported along the Silk Road (the ancient
trade route linking China and the Roman Empire). This trade brought China great
wealth, but the Chinese did not give away the secret on how silk was formed.
Christian monks finally broke Chinas monopoly of the silk production by smuggling
silkworm eggs out of the country, and soon other countries started to produce their
own silk.

Production of silk:
Silkworms are cultivated and fed with mulberry leaves. Some of these eggs are
hatched by artificial means such as an incubator, and in the olden times, the people
carried it close to their bodies so that it would remain warm.
Silkworms that feed on smaller, domestic tree leaves produce the finer silk, while the
coarser silk is produced by silkworms that have fed on oak leaves. From the time they
hatch A worker sorting out silkworm cocoons.to the time they start to spin cocoons,

they are very carefully tended to. Noise is believed to affect the process, thus the
cultivators try not to startle the silkworms.
Their cocoons are spun from tops of loose straw. It will be completed in two to three
days' time. cultivators then gather cocoons and the chrysales are killed by heating and
drying the cocoons.
In the olden days, they were packed with leaves and salt in a jar, and then buried in
the ground, or else other insects might bite holes in it. Modern machines and modern
methods can be used to produce silk but the old-fashioned hand-reels and looms can
also produce equally beautiful silk.

Care of your silk garment: It is best to dry clean your silk garment either by individual
or bulk method, in order to maintain the characteristic of the silk.
Dry clean: Sending it to the dry cleaners may be done but make sure that you inform
the dry cleaner that your garment is made of silk. A silk factory in Italy.

Hand wash:
1) Make sure you wash in cool water.
2) Use a small amount of soap or mild detergent to wash the silk.
3) After washing it, rinse in cold water.
4) Hang it or lay it flat in a shaded area to dry.
5) If pressing is needed, use an all cotton iron board cover, a low or moderate steam
setting, and press on the wrong side of the fabric while ironing.
Other Tips:
To keep white silk white, add peroxide and ammonia to the wash.
Do not use bleach or any washing detergent with bleach
To remove yellow from white silk, add a few teaspoons of white vinegar to the wash.

Properties of the silk:

1)It is versatile and very comfortable.
2)It absorbs moisture.
3)It is cool to wear in the summer yet warm to wear in winter.
4)It can be easily dyed. Silk can be made into cushion covers.

5)It retains its shape and is relatively smooth.

6)It has a poor resistance to sunlight exposure.
7)It is the strongest natural fiber and is lustrous.

Uses:
Silk is used to make blouses, dresses, scarves, pants and ties. It can also be made into
curtains, draperies, cushion covers and sofa covers.

Nylon
History of the use of nylon:
This synthetic fiber was introduced in the 1930s. It was another early substitute for silk
and soon quickly became the fiber of choice for women's stockings. The first
commercial production of nylon in the United States was in 1939 by the E.I. du Pont de
Nemours andThe microscopic close-up of a nylon fiber. Company.
Wallace H. Carothers, a chemist of the Dupont Company played the leader in this
development of nylon. This man-made fiber is the second most used fiber in the
United States.

Production of nylon:
Nylon is made by forcing molten nylon through very small holes in a device called a
spinneret. The streams of nylon harden into filament once they come in contact with
air. They are then wound onto bobbins. These fibers are drawn (stretched) after they
cool.
Drawing involves unwinding the yarn or filaments and then winding it around another
spool. Drawing makes the molecules in each filament fall into parallel lines. This gives
the nylon fiber strength and elasticity.
After the In control room of a nylon plant.whole drawing process, yarn may be twisted
a few turns per yard or metres as it is wound onto spools. Further treatment to it can
give it a different texture or bulk.

Care of your nylon garment:

1) Machine wash in cold water.
2) Wash it separately from other types of fabric.
3) If needed, use only non-chlorine bleach to bleach your nylon garment.

4) Turn the setting to low before tumbling dry.

5) Remove your nylon garment promptly from the tumbler.
Other Tips:
Extensive washing and drying in an automatic dryer can lead to piling.
White nylon should be washed separately to avoid it turning grey.
To avoid yellowing of your white nylon, you should bleach it frequently with Sodium
Perborate bleach.
Properties of the nylon:
1)It is strong and elastic. Nylon track suits
2)It is easy to launder.
3)It dries quickly.
4)It retains its shape.
5)It is resilient and responsive to heat setting.

Uses:
Nylon is popular for hosiery and is used to make track pants, shorts, swimwear, active
wear, windbreakers, bedspread and draperies. It can also be made into parachutes,
flak vests, combat uniforms, tires and life vests, or used as the netting of bridal veils,
umbrellas and luggage.

Polyester
Polyester is the general name for any group of widely used synthetic products.
Polyesters are strong, tough materials that are manufactured in a variety of colors,
shapes and sizes.
History of the use of polyester:
The first commercial production of polyester was by the du Pont de Nemours Company.
It is the most used fiber in the United States.

Production of polyester: A factory that produces polyester.

Polyesters are made from chemical substances found mainly in petroleum. Polyesters
are manufactured in three basic forms - fibers, films and plastics.

Polyester fibers are used to make fabrics. Poly (ethylene terephthalate, or simply PET)
is the most common polyester used for fiber purposes. This is the polymer used
Spinning polyester into yarn.for making soft drink bottles. Recycling PET by re-melting
it and extruding it as fiber saves much raw materials as well as energy.
PET is made by ethylene glycol with either terephthalic acid or its methyl ester in the
presence of an antimony catalyst. In order to achieve high molecular weights needed
to form useful fibers, the reaction has to be carried out at high temperature and in a
vacuum.
Care of your polyester garment:
1) Machine-wash your fabric in cold water.
2) Wash with light colours.
3) Use a gentle cycle while washing.In a factory that produces polyester.
4) Tumble dry with the setting low.
5) Do not bleach.
6) If needed, iron with a cool iron.

Properties of the polyester:

1)It is resists wrinkling.
2)It is easy to launder.
3)It dries quickly.
4)It is resistant to stretching and shrinking.

Uses:
Polyester is used to make most forms of clothing like shirts, running shorts, track
pants, windbreakers, and lingerie. It can also be made into curtains and draperies.

Apparel
Apparel is used to describe clothes worn by people. There are many different types of
apparel, worn to suit different occasions and places. Many factors can therefore affect
type of clothes one wears.
The four factors are the climate of the country, its customs and traditions, the people's
religion and the different status of a certain group of people in a country.

1) Climate
2) Customs and traditions
3) Religion
4) Status

People wear clothes for three basic purposes - protection, communication and
decoration. But people of different regions of the world often need different kinds of
Muslim women wear veils in public. Protection, especially in different climates (see
Climates).
People may also wear clothes that have a special meaning not understood by people
of other countries. For example, many Muslim women wear veils in public because
their religion requires them to hide their hair from strangers (see Religion). In addition,
people have different ideas about what makes clothing attractive.
People in different countries may have different materials available for making clothes.
For example, the people of France can wear clothes made from a much greater variety
of materials than can the people in Indonesia. French stores sell garments made not
only of such natural materials like cotton, fur, silk, leather and wool, but also of
artificially made fibers like nylon and polyester. Most people in Indonesia can only
choose clothing made of cotton.
A woman weaving cloth in Thailand. Ways of making clothes vary from country to
country. Highly industrialized countries like Canada, Japan, Russia, Germany and the
United States use many kinds of machines and many processes to make clothes. For
example, textile manufacturers in those countries can rapidly produce cotton cloth
woven many different ways. They can also dye the cloth and rapidly sew it into
different kinds of clothes.
People living in India may have only hand-powered equipment for weaving cloth. They
need much more time than a machine to make cloth and they will also have to sew
clothes by hand.
A Chinese farmer wears a straw hat with brims that slant down. Clothing customs (see
Customs) affect styles. Their customs develop in a country as generation after
generation of children learn what clothes to wear. For example, a Mexican farmer and
Chinese farmer may wear the same clothes made from similar materials and by the
same basic methods.
They may also need clothes for the same purposes. But the custom in Mexico is to
wear straw hats with brims that tilt up. In China, custom calls for straw hats with brims
that slant down.

Climate
In many parts of the world, people need protection from the weather. Therefore the
type of climate influences the type of clothes that people wear.
The materials used for clothing vary around the world. Some textiles are better suited
to a particular climate. For example, knitted wool is more useful in cold climates, and
thin woven cotton is more useful in warm climates.
For most of history, the textiles people used depended on the raw materials available
locally, such as flax in Egypt, cotton in India, and silk in China.
Beyond considerations of utility and availability, however, people tend to derive
regional or national identity from their most characteristic textiles, just as they do from
their typical foods. Thus, a European businessman defines himself in part by his
woolen suit, an Indonesian farmer by his cotton sarong (skirt of brightly colored cloth,
worn wrapped about the waist).
For centuries, silk-wearing Chinese people despised wool,Eskimos which they
considered the fabric of uncivilized people. Today, such considerations of identity have
weakened amid international trade and international cultural exchange.
In cold climates, people wear warm garments made of fur, wool, or closely woven
fabrics. They also wear warm shoes or boots. These materials are usually good
insulators of heat because they tend to have many tiny hairs in them and these hairs
trap air.
As air is a bad conductor of heat, heat is unable to pass through and the person is kept
warm. The Eskimos for example, made most of their clothing of caribou skin. They
wear two suits, with the inner suit of caribou skin or sealskin suit.
In warm climates, people wear materials made of lightweight materials like cotton or
linen, which have a fairly open weave. These materials absorb perspiration and allow
air to flow around body.
People in these climates Women in India wear light, loose clothing because of the hot
climate. Sometimes wear white or light-coloured clothes because such colours reflect
the suns rays. For example, India, most of the people wear light, loose clothing
because of the hot climate. Bright colours and white are common.
They may also wear sandals, which are more comfortable than shoes or heavy boots in
warm weather. Large hats made of straw serve as sunshades.
This is especially evident in places in the tropical regions like in Southeast Asia where
daily temperatures range from 23 to 34 degrees Celsius and where the weather is very
humid.
In an African village, villagers may wear only a loincloth around the waist.

In temperate regions, people wear different types ofA family in Russia dressed for the
clod winter. clothing because of the four different seasons: summer, spring, autumn
and winter. Their types of clothes vary with each different season.
In summer, they may choose to wear clothes made of cotton so that they will not feel
too warm during this period when temperatures are high.
During winter, they would switch to wearing coatsMen in Algeria wear loose long
garments to protect their bodies from the sun. and jackets made of thicker materials
like wool to keep themselves warm in the cold weather.
In many places, people must wear clothes for protection against several kinds of
weather. For example, people of the Arabian deserts wear loose, flowing garments that
shield their bodies from the blazing sun.
The same garments protect them against the cold night air. Even in less severe
climates, people may require protective clothing during the hot and cold seasons.

Customs & Traditions

Different countries have different customs and different. A man and woman dressed in
the traditional Mongolian costume. sets of beliefs. We have grouped the following
countries into regions to illustrate to you how the different customs and traditions of
some countries affect the type of clothes people wear.

Europe
Russia:
Traditional Russian clothing consists of The traditional Greek costume. embroidered
colorful shirts and blouses. Including embroidered headwear, and also shoes that are
specially woven from bast, a very strong and tough fiber from the bark of special trees.

Portugal:
Their traditional clothing consist of berets, stocking caps, baggy shirts and trousers for
the men. Women wear long dresses and shawls. In other places people dress entirely
in black or another dark colour for their daily activities, but they put on colourful
garments on special occasions.

Scotland:
The people from the highlands of Scotland wearThe Scots wear kilts. kilts. It is a kneelength, skirt-like garment that is pleated at the back, but has a plain front. These kilts
are made of tartan, a checked cloth. The design of the kilt is usually associated with a
particular Scottish clan.

Ireland:

The Irish wear kilts of saffron colour, which are made of fine-spun woolen cloth and a
sporran (an ornamental pouch), is worn in front of the kilt. The kilt is usually worn with
nothing underneath.

Asia
China:
The Chinese believe that dark-coloured clothing bring bad luck and should be avoided
while wearing brighter-coloured clothes, especially the colour red is auspicious as it is
believed that the colour red can bring good luck and prosperity.

India:
Women: Most Indian women wear saris. This is aAn Indian woman dressed in a sari.
garment consisting of a 6-meter long piece of cloth, which is draped around the body
as a long dress. The loose end of cloth is flung over the shoulder or used to cover the
head of the woman wearing it.
The sari is usually worn with a blouse.Most unmarried women and young girls in
Northern India usually wear long flowing trousers called a shalwar and a long blouse
called kameez. The tribal women wear long skirts.
Most Indian men wear a dhoti. This is usually white in colour and is wrapped around
the legs forming a loose trousers. This can also be wrapped around the lower part of
the body forming a skirt and is fastened at the waist. The poor laborers wear loincloth,
a piece of cloth wrapped around the hips between the thighs. In cities, western
dressing is increasing in popularity.

Malaysia:
traditional wear of Malay women and men in Malaysia is a colourful skirt called a
sarong or a kain. The sarong is a long strip of cloth wrapped around body, while a kain
is similar, except it has its ends sewn together. The man usually wears a shirt with a
sarong wrapped around his waist.
The woman wears a long-sleeved blouse with a sarong or a kain. The man also wears a
special cap for religious purposes and the woman wears a shawl over her shoulders or
on her head. They coverThe traditional korean costume. their heads so as not to show
their hair. This is to prevent the men from treating them as sex objects, and also
because their God has told them to do so.

Korea:
The women usually wear colourful traditional clothing more often than men. traditional
clothing is made of cotton material. Traditional women-wear is a long, full skirt that

extends below knees and also a tight-fitting jacket. For the men, they wear loosefitting trousers, shirts and jackets.

Japan:
On special occasions, such as A Japanese girl wears a kimono.weddings and funerals,
the Japanese women wear a traditional clothing called a kimono. The kimono is tied
around the waist with a sash called obi and worn with zori, or sandals.

Vietnam:
In the Northern cities, both men and women wear plain black trousers accompanied
with tightly buttoned white or dark-coloured jackets. The people there wear sandals
made from tires of worn-out automobile. The dressing in the northern cities is similar
to that of the southern cities.
Many women wear the traditional Vietnamese aoVietnamese women in ao dais. dai,
which is a long coat-like garment worn over trousers. In rural areas, the women wear
loose-fitting shirts and skirts and the men wear coat-like garments that extend to the
knees.

North America
Mexico:
The men wear cotton shirts and trousers. TheyThe traditional Mexican poncho. also
wear leather sandals known as huaraches. Sombreros protect Mexican men from the
hot sun. Sombreros are wide-brimmed felt or straw hats. They wear ponchos when it is
cold or when it rains. The women wear blouses with long, full skirts. They also wear
plastic sandals. The women cover their heads with rebozos (fringed shawls).

South America
Brazil:
In Southern Brazil, the cowboys (gauchos) wear baggy trousers called bombachas, and
also wide-brimmed felt hats.
A Bolivian man wears a traditional dress.

Bolivia:
The men wear striped ponchos and colourful shawls. The women wear full skirts. They
also wear derby hats.

Africa

Egypt:
The Fellahin men (fellahin means peasant) wear pants and long, full shirt-like garments
called a galabiyah; whereas the women wear long flowing gowns either in dark or
bright colours.

North Africa:
In Northern Africa, the men wear long, loose robes. Many men also wear turbans or
skullcaps. The women folk wear long, simple dresses, at times with baggy trousers
underneath. The women also wear a dark coloured cloak or shawl in public, while some
follow the Islamic tradition of covering their faces with veils. However, people in the
cities dress in western-styled clothing.

Religion
There are many types of religion in the world today. Religion affects the type of clothes
that people wear because different religions have different beliefs and people wear
different types of clothes when it comes to worship. Muslim women in Malaysia.
For example, the Muslim women cover their heads with chendors. This is because to
the Muslim people, a woman's hair is a sign of her sexuality. A chaste, modest, pure
woman does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest
degree.
SikhSikh men are also known to not cut their hair but knot it up under a turban.
Orthodox Jews
In Judaism, Orthodox men wear hats or yarmulkas (skullcaps) at all times as a sign of
respect to God.
Monks and priests of different religions also dress themselves differently. Monks in
Asian countries like Thailand and India tend to dress in lighter colours as temperatures
here are higher. Buddhist monks in different countries also dress differently.

Status
In some countries, groups of people have different status in society compared to
others. This has also led to people dressing differently and wearing different types of
clothes.The wealthy in China wore silk robes bearing intricate designs.
In Communist China, the Chinese male and female wore very ordinary clothes like
shirts, pants, and skirts, whereas the Government officials and technicians could wear
better clothes like suits with four-pocket jackets that button at the neck. These were
available only in special stores.
In ancient China, the clothes that people wore indicated their status and where they
stood in society. For example, scholars dressed in long blue gowns. Women of the

upper class wore elaborate hairdos and wore colourful silk robes with intricate
embroidery.
However, the common folk wore patched and faded jackets and pants. The officials
meanwhile wore gowns with embroidered dragons, whilst the Emperor wore a very
elaborate costume, usually golden inThe poor in China wore only old and faded
clothings. colour, of top quality material such as silk.
In northern India, the common women folk usually wear saris, while the richer women
there can afford to wear jeans.
The common men folk usually wear dhotis, whereas the poorer laborers and farmers
wear only a loincloth. It is wrapped around the hips between thighs. A woman in
Afghanistan with her child.
In other countries like Afghanistan, the women hold very low social status compared to
the men. Therefore the women not only have to ride in separate carriages in trains
from the men, they also have to cover themselves from head to toe, allowing only
their eyes to be seen. Other parts of the body cannot be exposed or the woman might
face punishment from the men.

Color
Colors affect every movement of our lives although our color choices are mostly
unconscious. Many of us have a favorite color and often wear clothes of a certain color.
However, these colors that we are attracted to over long periods of time are linked to
our personality type, our strengths and weaknesses, as well as indicating our potential
in life.
Here at Fabric Online, we keep you informed on the color significance in fabrics &
clothes we wear; where you can learn what your favorite color (to wear) actually
shows about your personality.
Often, in some cultures, we encounter certain beliefs on color superstition. People
belief that certain colors bring bad luck while others bring good luck. Many people also
believe that there are appropriate colors for different occasions. For example, the
Chinese consider it bad luck to wear black on the first day of the Lunar Year as black
symbolizes death and should never be worn on such a joyous occasion.

Significance of colors
Look at the colours you wear most often and see what they reveal about you. The
following analyses are based on various psychological tests.

Red-If you wear red

You are impulsive, excitable and energetic. You are ambitious and like things to happen
quickly when you want them to do so. You like to be the best in everything you do. You

may be a bit insensitive to the feelings of the other people, since you like to be the
center of attraction.
Learn to be a good listener. Red means vital force, with your nervous activity urging
you to achieve results and be successful. If you make a habit of wearing red it may
indicate you place importance on sexual desire and eroticism. This energy can be best
used in the form of creative endeavor, leadership development and expansion.
You are courageous and extroverted, but tend to become irritable and bad tempered if
you do not get your own way. Learn to be patient. Maroon and brick reds show you are
fun loving, but be careful not to become resentful and feel victimized by the others.

Pink-If you wear pink

You have an affectionate, loving nature, which makes you sympathetic and
understanding. You may lack willpower and show weakness when you cannot control
affairs of the heart.
You need a great deal of support from others and can be childlike in behavior. You must
learn to accept and love yourself. If you become more self-reliant you will attract and
give out the feelings of warmth and love you desire.

Orange-If you wear orange, peach or apricot

You are competent, self-oriented and impatient. You are also independent, an organizer
and self-motivated. Orange is the colour of practicality and creativity. Your energy
levels are high, and you are sometimes restless. You have a forceful will and tend to be
active and competitive. You are also excitable and can seek domination over the
others.
Bright orange and burnt orange can make you feel frustrated and blocked. Try wearing
peach, which will direct your energy to the others in a more caring way.

Yellow-If you wear yellow

You have an interesting and stimulating personality. You like to be active and involved
in whatever is going on. Lively and vital, you can cope well with lifes challenges.
Bright yellow represents spontaneity and communication. You are active, inspiring and
like to investigate. There is a desire and hope of greater happiness, which implies
some minor conflict in which release is needed. Yellow presses forward to the new,
modern, the developing and uniformed, and drawn in ideas from the "higher mind".

Green-If you wear green

You are a cautious person and not inclined to trust others easily. You are an observer in
life, but do not wished to get involved more than you have to. A quiet life suits you
best. You are benevolent, humanistic and service-orientated.

If you wear blue-green you need a peaceful environment, wishing release from stress,
and freedom from conflicts or disagreement. You take pains to control the situation
and its problems by proceeding cautiously. You have sensitivity of feeling and a fine
eye for detail. Try wearing pale yellow with your green to help you share yourself and
develop an optimistic attitude.

Light blue-If you wear light blue

You are creative, perceptive and sensitive. You have a good imagination and practical
approach to life. Your approach can be analytical and you are best advised to use your
knowledge for problem solving. You like to do things in your own time and not be
rushed. You need a secure and peaceful environment.

Dark blue-If you wear dark blue

You are intelligent, self-reliant and have a great depth of feeling. You feel responsibility
for others and enjoy decision-making. You need tranquility all around you and must be
surrounded by tenderness, love and affection. Noisy people disturb you. You may
suffer from mental stress owing to the lack of play and relaxation. Try wearing some
blue-greens or greens to help your self-expression and improve your health.

Violet-If you wear violet

Yours is a sensitive, compassionate nature so you can be easily imposed upon and
should be careful to pick friends who are as sensitive as you are. To be happy, work
where you feel needed. Try wearing lilac or magenta, a colour with more red in it. This
will boost your self-confidence and provide your vulnerability with protection.

Purple-If you wear purple

You are very intuitive and have deep feelings and high aspirations. You are interested
in the best of everything, including your friends. Lesser mortals do not interest you or
enter into your scheme of things except where necessary.
Watch that you do not become arrogant try to make more time for listening. Orchid,
grape or violet can make you feel imposed upon by others belief systems, rules and
regulations. Be sensitive to your personal and spiritual needs. Try yoga or meditation
to release mind blocks.

White-If you wear white

White contains all the other colours in the spectrum, showing that you have a positive,
well-balanced and optimistic personality. You are highly individualistic and a loner. You
seek a simplified lifestyle free from outside pressures.
You have chosen a simple and pure colour, but one that reaches out for recognition.
You are probably going through a transitional period with new ideas not yet taken
form. Be open-minded and communicate, for with white all things are possible

Gray-If you wear gray

You are very much an individual. Many people may get the impression you are selfsufficient as you have excellent self-control and prefer to remain uninvolved. Those
who wear gray have a tendency to isolate them, which can lead to loneliness. You may
be passive because you feel stressed and overburdened.
You may need rest, relaxation and freedom from daily stress. Maybe you need a good
break take in the blue of the ocean or green of the countryside. People who wear
gray are often those who make judgements and may be good critics. Those who lack
judgement and struggle to form opinions should wear gray.

Brown-If you wear brown

Brown clothing suggests an honest, down-to-earth person who likes a structured
supported lifestyle. A lover of the best things life has to offer, you are a sensuous type,
appreciating good food, drink and company. Brown is the colour of Mother Earth.
It is a protective colour, but you may be
you retreat into your shell and fear the
wearing brown or muddy colour. There
accepted by the outside world. You need
narrow-mindedness.

bottling up emotion or a secret that makes

outside world; thus you feel protected by
is a desire to be emotionally secure and
to understand your self-worth and ward off

Black-If you wear black

You are strong-willed, opinionated & disciplined. You may be too inflexible and too
independent. Watch out that these are not defense tactics. You may really lack
confidence in yourself and your own ability to handle life efficiently. It may be you
have a little way to go to maturity and are using black to cloak yourself while you
discover your true identity.
Black represents renunciation ultimate surrender or relinquishment-& those who
choose to wear black constantly want to renounce everything out of a stubborn
protest. Wearing black on certain occasions shows you have control in yourself in order
to communicate an authoritative image

Appropriate Colors for Occasions

Funerals: The color white is preferable, because it is a White is the colour for
mourning. symbol of mourning. Black is also a common color for funerals. Wearing the
color red is considered taboo, and people see it to mean disrespect towards the dead.
Weddings: For a traditional Chinese wedding, color red or other bright colors is
considered to be a lucky color, thus wearing bright colors can scare away evil spirits
and bring good luck to couple.

For a westernized wedding, the groom is usually seen wearing a black tuxedo, and the
bride, a white dress.Both the bride and groom are dressed in traditional Chinese
wedding suits. These two colors can be used to differentiate the men from the women.
In modern day western weddings, the color of clothes has been varying. People are
becoming bolder when choosing the color of their attire.
Graduation Day: On graduation day, people wearing caps and gowns are a common
sight. The students wear caps and gowns on special occasions.
The attire consists of a full-flowing robe and a skullcap. These gowns are usually black.
The color of the hood's satin lining indicates the school Graduates on Graduation
Day.that conferred the degree. The tassel is usually black in color. For a doctorate
degree, the tassel is gold in color. For a bachelor degree, women wear gowns with
white collars.
Chinese New Year: On Chinese New Year it is believed that wearing clothes that are red
in color can bring good luck and prosperity throughout the year.
Story behind the color red, started long ago when a beast called 'Nian' created havoc
in a village. It ate up people and The Chinese believe that the colour red can bring
good luck.their livestock. The people wanted to get rid of it, but were too frighten to
attack it as they feared for their lives.
A brave farmer decided to kill the beast. Although his wife was against it, he still went.
For many days he did not return, and many people feared that he was dead.
Soon all their livestock were eaten up. The beast turned up at the village looking for
food. A brave man decided to attack the beast.
This man was wearing red colored clothing. The beast saw him and immediately tried
to shield itself. It suddenly dawned upon the man that the beast was afraid of bright
colors like red and orange, and he yelled to the villagers to bring all kinds of bright
colored objects from the village.
They managed to scare of the beast away, and after that incident, on every Chinese
New Years eve, Chinese people would put up red and bright New Year decorations, as
well as wear red colored clothing.

Fashion
Fashion is a term used commonly to describe a style of clothing worn by most people
of a country. A fashion remains popular for a few months or years before being
replaced by yet another fashion. A product or activity is in fashion or is fashionable
during the period of time that a large segment of society accepts it. After a time,
however, the same product or activity becomes old-fashioned when the majority of
people no longer accept it.

The Evolution of Fashion and Fashion Changes

Major changes in fashion occurred frequently before the 1300s. Since then, the
political and social conditions of a nation, plus technological developments, have
influenced fashion in various ways. King Louis XIII
During the 1300s, rulers of many European nations began to set fashions that were
followed by the members of their courts. In the mid-1600s, King Louis XIII of France
began wearing a wig to hide his baldness. Fashionable Frenchmen soon began to
shave their heads and wear wigs. In the mid-1800s, English women were said to have
copied Queen Victorias stout figure by wearing puffy dresses with padding
underneath. Queen Victoria
Some fashion changes have accompanied a breakdown in system of having social
classes. Members of nobility lost much of their power during the 1300s, when rigid
class systems were weakened in Europe. Nobility began to dress more elaborately to
distinguish themselves from the middle classes.
During mid-1800s, mass production of clothing made fashionable clothes available to
more people at lower prices. People of all social classes began to wear similar styles of
clothing. Today, it is easier to identify an expensive garment by quality of its fabric and
manufacture than by its style.
Through the years, fashions in games and sports have influenced the way people
dress. During the 1700s, people in England adopted simpler clothing styles after they
became interested in fox hunting and other outdoor sports. Today, many people wear
special clothing for activities such as golf, horseback riding, hunting and tennis.
Wars have also affected the style of dress in a country. European soldiers returning
from the crusades during the 1100s and 1200s brought back various eastern ideas of
dress styles. The crusaders also returned with rich silks and other textiles not available
in Europe.