74-495: Tights are a kind of cloth garment, most often sheathing the body from the waist to the toe tips with a tight fit, hence the name. They come in absolute opaque, opaque, sheer and fishnet styles — or a combination, such as the original concept of the American term pantyhose with sheer legs and opaque panty. When made of fine silk , this hosiery was considered to be a stocking . When nylon fibres were developed and introduced in
148-576: A dance belt beneath their tights both to provide support to the genitalia and to promote a smooth, regular appearance. Wearing two pairs of tights is also a common practice among male dancers, as it guards against the combination of stretched fabric and bright stage lights making them appear translucent. The wearing of tights has a history going back several centuries, when they were worn by both men and women. Today, they are worn primarily by women and girls. In recent years, however, they have been offered as men's fashion . Tights are most commonly worn with
222-561: A skirt or dress by women. They are also most commonly worn under trousers or shorts by men. In the world of theatre tights are also common, especially in Renaissance -era costumes , and dance , particularly in ballet . The term "tights" has been used to try to ridicule certain traditional British uniform . Most famously the Serjeants-at-Arms at the Palace of Westminster , after
296-473: A "stirrup" that goes under the foot to hold the cuff down near the ankle. Originally, leggings covered only the legs (not the lower torso); were two separate pieces; and did not contain elastic fibres, so were cut close fitting (to use less fabric) and were loose, not tight. Originally derived from the hose worn by European men several centuries ago, tights were made as close fitting as possible for practical reasons when riding horseback. For men of nobility ,
370-582: A blazer and tie) for business attire and even at cocktail parties. They are available in a wide range of colors, ranging from conservative grey and navy, to brighter hues such as orange, green and pink. Despite their name, they are not of Bermudian origin, but were originally designed around 1900 for military wear by the British armed forces in tropical climates. From the 1920s onwards these military uniform shorts began to be copied by Bermudian tailors and civilians, and were subsequently taken up by tourists who spread
444-493: A blend of cotton and polyester can be more durable and easier to maintain than material woven solely from cotton. Other than sharing functional properties, blending makes the products more economical. Union or Union fabrics is the 19th century term for blended fabrics. While it is no longer in use. Mixture or mixed cloth is another term used for blended cloths when different types of yarns are used in warp and weft sides. Blended textiles are not new. Fiber composition
518-585: A broader application than cloth. Fabric is synonymous with cloth, material, goods, or piece goods . The word 'fabric' also derives from Latin, with roots in the Proto-Indo-European language . Stemming most recently from the Middle French fabrique , or "building," and earlier from the Latin fabrica ('workshop; an art, trade; a skillful production, structure, fabric'), the noun fabrica stems from
592-533: A cave in the Republic of Georgia dated to 34,000 BCE suggests that textile-like materials were made as early as the Paleolithic era. The speed and scale of textile production have been altered almost beyond recognition by industrialization and the introduction of modern manufacturing techniques. The textile industry grew out of art and craft and was kept going by guilds . In the 18th and 19th centuries, during
666-440: A certain height or maturity. When boys got older, typically around puberty, they would receive their first pair of long trousers. This produced the perception that shorts were only for young boys. Because of this, men would not wear shorts to avoid looking immature, even when the weather was hot. Women tended not to wear shorts in most cultures, due to social mores: they were expected to wear dresses , or skirts and blouses . In
740-409: A darker brief or no visible brief at all, the former being used to create extra support or a shaping effect. One area where design is vastly different from model to model is in the toe area. There are several varieties of toe type, such as sandal toes, open toes and reinforced, all offering different effects. Whilst some descriptions of the difference between open toe and sandal toe can cause confusion,
814-628: A divided skirt resembling a pair of loose-cut shorts. The British English term, short trousers , is used, only for shorts that are a short version of ordinary trousers (i.e., pants or slacks in American English). For example: tailored shorts, often lined, as typically worn as part of a school uniform for boys up to their early teens, and by servicemen and policemen in tropical climates. Shorts , used unqualified in British English, refers to sports shorts, athletic shorts, or casual shorts;
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#1732851845962888-485: A form of currency. Textiles were among the objects offered to the gods [votive offering] in ancient Greece for religious purposes. The smallest component of a fabric is fiber; fibers are typically spun into yarn, and yarns are used to make fabrics. Fibers are very thin and hair-like structures. The sources of fibers may be natural , synthetic , or both. Global fiber production per person has increased from 8.4 kilograms in 1975 to 14.3 kilograms in 2021. After
962-597: A further step of the production. Cloth may also be used synonymously with fabric , but often specifically refers to a piece of fabric that has been processed or cut. Textiles are various materials made from fibers and yarns. The term "textile" was originally only used to refer to woven fabrics, but today it covers a broad range of subjects. Textiles are classified at various levels, such as according to fiber origin (natural or synthetic), structure (woven, knitted, nonwoven), finish, etc. However, there are primarily two types of textiles: Textiles have an assortment of uses,
1036-588: A garment, however, is referred to as underpants in American English (note the qualification of the word pants by the word under ). Alongside the term boxer shorts , undershorts or simply shorts were synonyms for underpants during the time of this coinage; while jockey shorts was a synonym for men's briefs . In much of Europe and the Americas during the 19th and early 20th centuries, shorts were worn as outerwear only by young boys until they reached
1110-518: A long, continuous strand of yarn. Yarns are then used to make different kinds of fabric by weaving, knitting, crocheting , knotting , tatting , or braiding . After manufacturing, textile materials are processed and finished to add value, such as aesthetics, physical characteristics, and increased usefulness. The manufacturing of textiles is the oldest industrial art . Dyeing , printing , and embroidery are all different decorative arts applied to textile materials. The word 'textile' comes from
1184-559: A modest drop due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, global fiber output rebounded to 113 million tons in 2021. Global fiber output roughly doubled from 58 million tons in 2000 to 113 million tons in 2021 and is anticipated to reach 149 million tons in 2030. The demand for synthetic fibers is increasing rapidly. This has numerous causes. Reasons include its low price, the demand-supply imbalance of cotton, and its [Synthetic fibers'] versatility in design and application. Synthetic fibers accounts for 70% of global fiber use, mainly polyester. By 2030,
1258-509: A protester got past the security, were described in the media as "middle aged men in tights." For horseback riding, "tights" in some equestrian circles can refer to tightly fitting riding pants of light material that extend all the way down to the rider's ankle and worn with a 'paddock' style (ankle height) boot. Such pants are worn in summer or as an undergarment in winter. In warm climates they can be worn all year round. These "riding tights" are cheaper to buy than jodhpurs or breeches which are
1332-411: A study of British private schools noted that traditional grey school shorts had become denoters of private or public school uniform, as they were no longer required wear by state schools . Similar tailored shorts form part of school uniform in a number of countries, including Australia, Singapore, South Africa and New Zealand, and are also part of the uniform worn by children in organisations such as
1406-725: A textile product, including fiber, yarn, fabric, processing, and finishing , affects the final product. Components may vary among various textile products as they are selected based on their fitness for purpose . Fiber is the smallest component of a fabric; fibers are typically spun into yarn, and yarns are used to manufacture fabrics. Fiber has a hair-like appearance and a higher length-to-width ratio. The sources of fibers may be natural , synthetic , or both. The techniques of felting and bonding directly transform fibers into fabric. In other cases, yarns are manipulated with different fabric manufacturing systems to produce various fabric constructions. The fibers are twisted or laid out to make
1480-413: A type of riding pant made of heavier material and which extends only to mid calf length and are intended to be worn with tall riding boots. Tights can also describe the leg coverings worn in bicycling in cold weather and in other athletic activities, especially by runners. These tights are usually a thicker spandex -blend, and are usually footless. It has also been advocated by some sport scientists that
1554-562: Is an American coinage for a particular kind of men's underwear , and is now also common in Britain. However, boxer shorts are often referred to merely as boxers in the US. Moreover, whereas the American English usage of the word pants refers to outerwear (i.e., trousers in British English), the usage of pants in British English refers to the garment worn under one's trousers, such as boxers; such
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#17328518459621628-409: Is any material made of interlacing fibers, including carpeting and geotextiles , which may not necessarily be used in the production of further goods, such as clothing and upholstery . A fabric is a material made through weaving , knitting , spreading, felting, stitching, crocheting or bonding that may be used in the production of further products, such as clothing and upholstery, thus requiring
1702-434: Is decorative art of Odisha , a state in eastern India , used for umbrellas , wall hangings, lamp shades, and bags. To make a range of decorative products, colored cloth in the shapes of animals, birds, flowers, are sewn onto a base cloth. Architextiles , a combination of the words architecture and textile, are textile-based assemblages. Awnings are a basic type of architectural textile. Mughal Shahi Lal Dera Tent , which
1776-568: Is less common among women in traditional eastern countries than in the West although that varies widely by region. Women more often wear shorts in large cosmopolitan cities. In some countries, adult women can be seen wearing loose-fitting shorts that end at or just below the knee, as these are seen as sufficiently modest. In many countries, there are still many settings in which wearing shorts would not be acceptable, as they are considered too casual . Notable exceptions in which men may wear short trousers to
1850-459: Is one of the important characteristics of the fibers. They have a greater length-to-width ratio [100 times the diameter]. Fibers need to be strong, cohesive, and flexible. The usefulness of fibers are characterized on the basis of certain parameters such as strength, flexibility, and length to diameter ratio, and spinnability. Natural fibers are relatively short [ staple ] in length. Synthetic fibers are produced in longer lengths called filaments. Silk
1924-569: Is renowned for its long durability. Fabric or yarn produced with a combination of two or more types of different fibers , or yarns to obtain desired traits. Blending is possible at various stages of textile manufacturing . Final composition is liable for the properties of the resultant product. Natural and synthetic fibers are blended to overcome disadvantage of single fiber properties and to achieve better performance characteristics and aesthetic effects such as devoré , heather effect, cross dyeing and stripes pattern etc. Clothing woven from
1998-415: Is the ability of textile materials to withstand various conditions, environments, and hazards. Aesthetics, durability, comfort and safety, appearance retention, care, environmental impact, and cost are the serviceability concepts employed in structuring the material. Fibers, yarns, fabric construction, finishes and design are components of a textile product. The selection of specific components varies with
2072-412: Is the only natural fiber that is a filament. The classification of fibers is based on their origin, derivation, and generic types. Certain properties of synthetic fibers, such as their diameter, cross section , and color, can be altered during production. Cotton: Cotton has a long history of use in the clothing due to its favorable properties. This fiber is soft, moisture-absorbent, breathable, and
2146-400: Is yellowish-brown fiber made from the hemp plant. The fiber characteristics are coarser, harsher, strong and lightweight. Hemp fiber is used primary to make twine, rope and cordage. Animal textiles are commonly made from hair , fur , skin or silk (in the case of silkworms). Shorts Shorts are a garment worn over the pelvic area, circling the waist and splitting to cover
2220-552: The Latin adjective textilis , meaning 'woven', which itself stems from textus , the past participle of the verb texere , 'to weave'. Originally applied to woven fabrics , the term "textiles" is now used to encompass a diverse range of materials, including fibers, yarns , and fabrics , as well as other related items. A "fabric" is defined as any thin, flexible material made from yarn, directly from fibers, polymeric film, foam, or any combination of these techniques. Fabric has
2294-904: The Proto-Germanic klaithaz , similar to the Old Frisian klath , the Middle Dutch cleet , the Middle High German kleit and the German kleid , all meaning 'garment'. Although cloth is a type of fabric, not all fabrics can be classified as cloth due to differences in their manufacturing processes, physical properties, and intended uses. Materials that are woven, knitted, tufted, or knotted from yarns are referred to as cloth, while wallpaper, plastic upholstery products, carpets, and nonwoven materials are examples of fabrics. Textiles themselves are too fragile to survive across millennia;
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2368-507: The industrial revolution , it became increasingly mechanized. In 1765, when a machine for spinning wool or cotton called the spinning jenny was invented in the United Kingdom, textile production became the first economic activity to be industrialised. In the 20th century, science and technology were driving forces. The textile industry exhibits inherent dynamism, influenced by a multitude of transformative changes and innovations within
2442-470: The 1890s, knee pants (an early type of short pants) became the standard wear for American boys. Many urban school portraits from the 1890s show all but the oldest boys wearing knee pants. North American boys normally wore knee pants with short stockings. This began to change after the 1900s when North American boys began wearing knickerbockers during the winter, while short pants became more popular in Europe. In
2516-431: The 1920s and 1930s onwards, and by the 1950s, were widely worn. In early 21st century America, women's Bermuda shorts are known as "city shorts", and are usually knee-length, resembling a pencil skirt . In 1970 the company Quiksilver offered a highly successful boardshort design that rapidly gained a reputation among surfers as the best to be had. They would later pioneer a line of boardshorts specifically designed for
2590-437: The 1920s, when they were knee-length or just above knee-length. Up until the 1950s school shorts were also described as 'knickers' in tailoring catalogues and jargon. This term possibly originated as an abbreviation of knickerbockers , which began being worn by schoolboys for sports in the 1880s. As the term 'knickers' had become synonymous with panties in the 20th century, it was rarely used colloquially for shorts. By 2004,
2664-534: The 1930s, shorts started to be worn for casual comfort (e.g. outdoor and athletic activities) by both men and women. However, it was still taboo to wear shorts outside of certain activities. Since about the time of World War II , when many soldiers served in tropical locations, adult men have worn shorts more often, especially in summer weather, but the perception of shorts as being only for young boys took several decades to change, and to some extent still exists in certain circles. Shorts would soon become more popular by
2738-437: The 1940s, these stockings were referred to as nylons. When the separate legs were woven together with a panty that covered the lower torso up to the waist in a single, integrated format, the term pantyhose was coined, since it was a one piece construction of a panty with a pair of separate hose, one for each leg. This joining together eliminated any need for garters for holding up each separate leg covering. In American English,
2812-466: The 1990s, are an underwear-specific variation on boxer shorts, but made from elastic knit fabric for a snug fit. Since the 1980s, 'bike shorts' have also been worn as fashion garments, although these versions often lack the internal padding and construction required by cyclists. However, the term can describe many styles of shorts made from denim, such as cut-offs (see above) or Daisy Dukes (see above). The term "jorts", defined simply as denim shorts,
2886-632: The East. They were first treated as taboo in countries like China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam because they conflicted with old traditions that women have to cover their body private parts and worries about sexual harassment . As time goes by, shorts are slowly accepted by people, especially young people. Now in Asia, wearing shorts is considered young, active, and energetic. They are a symbol of freedom from old rules and have helped promote gender equality . Adults are also commonly seen wearing shorts, but wearing shorts
2960-545: The Latin faber " artisan who works in hard materials', which itself is derived from the Proto-Indo-European dhabh- , meaning 'to fit together'. Cloth is a flexible substance typically created through the processes of weaving, felting, or knitting using natural or synthetic materials. The word 'cloth' derives from the Old English clað , meaning "a cloth, woven, or felted material to wrap around one's body', from
3034-705: The Stone Age and the Iron Age in Central Europe are used to examine prehistoric clothing and its role in forming individual and group identities. Artifacts unearthed in various archaeological excavations informs us about the remains of past human life and their activities. Dyed flax fibers discovered in the Republic of Georgia indicate that textile-like materials were developed during the Paleolithic period . Radiocarbon dates
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3108-484: The almost-opaque tights are sometimes labelled as semi-opaque and are not considered suitable as pants due to being too revealing or immodest. In the United Kingdom , the word "tights" is used for footed garments, which would always be worn under another item of clothing such as shorts or a skirt, while " leggings " refers to footless leg-wear of any denier, the exception being ballet tights which may have an opening under
3182-544: The artistic merits and cultural significance of the world's textiles on a local, national, and international scale. The George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. , was established in 1925. The Bayeux Tapestry is a rare example of secular Romanesque art . The art work depicts the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Textiles are also used for decorative art . Appliqué work of pipili
3256-465: The difference between pantyhose and tights is determined in the weight of the yarn used and the density or tightness of weaving to which the garment is knitted. Generally, anything up to forty denier in the leg or overall is known as pantyhose and anything over that can be classified as tights, as for example 'running tights' and 'cycling tights'. Tights can be sheer yet solid in colour, whereas leggings are practically or absolutely opaque, not sheer. Thus,
3330-716: The domain. Textile operations can experience ramifications arising from shifts in international trade policies, evolving fashion trends, evolving customer preferences, variations in production costs and methodologies, adherence to safety and environmental regulations, as well as advancements in research and development. The textile and garment industries exert a significant impact on the economic systems of numerous countries engaged in textile production. Most textiles were called by their base fibre generic names, their place of origin, or were put into groups based loosely on manufacturing techniques, characteristics, and designs. Nylon , olefin , and acrylic are generic names for some of
3404-443: The fabric used in tights is made of interwoven fabric such as nylon or cotton, there are pores in the fabric where modern manufacturers have been able to place other items which benefit the skin. They can use microencapsulation techniques to place substances such as moisturizers and other skin creams in the tights. Tights are manufactured in many different varieties for stylistic and comfort reasons. Certain leg wear designs include
3478-589: The female wearer. Other leading boardshort manufacturers include Billabong and Rip Curl . By 2010, the boardshort was widely worn as a fashionable garment beyond the beach, including as clubwear and in schools. In the early 21st century, polyester is increasingly used, often blended with other fibres such as Lycra, elastane, or spandex, creating an ultrasuede effect. Elastic-waisted soft fabric shorts usually worn as underwear, but originally designed for wear by boxing participants. In their current form "boxers" were introduced in 1925 by Jacob Golomb (founder of
3552-412: The fiber blend composition of mixtures of the fibers, is an important criterion to analyze the behavior, properties such as functional aspects, and commercial classification of the merchandise. The most common blend is cotton and polyester. Regular blended fabric is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. It is called a reverse blend if the ratio of cotton predominates—the percentage of the fibers changes with
3626-430: The industry standard is that a sandal toe covers the whole foot but without a seam that would be visible in an open shoe, and open toe tights use either a silicone band or toe loops to anchor the garment whilst leaving the toes uncovered. Cloth Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials , including fibers, yarns , filaments , threads , different fabric types, etc. At first,
3700-406: The intended use, therefore the fibers, yarns, and fabric manufacturing systems are selected with consideration of the required performance. Textiles, textile production, and clothing were necessities of life in prehistory, intertwined with the social, economic, and religious systems. Other than clothing, textile crafts produced utilitarian, symbolic, and opulent items. Archaeological artifacts from
3774-556: The last nowadays commonplace in warm weather in the UK. Shorts are also known as "half pants" in India. The dated American English term, short pants , is probably the nearest equivalent in the US, where they might now be called dress shorts , a term that has not gained much currency in Britain. A somewhat similar garment worn by men in Australia is called stubbies . The term, boxer shorts ,
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#17328518459623848-421: The late 1960s as a result of the countercultural movement that defined the decade , and men and women started wearing jean shorts and other variants as the 1970s dawned. It would become more common for men to wear shorts as casual wear in summer, but much less so in cooler seasons. Shorts are not traditional clothing in some Asian countries . International trade and fashion trends have helped bring shorts to
3922-414: The material would be made of silk or fine wool rather than the coarser fabrics used by the lower classes. At the time of King Henry VIII of England, such was the male fashion for displaying a well turned leg that even the king padded the calf area under his hose. Portrait paintings of him and other nobility often portray the wearing of a codpiece covering the groin. In both historic and modern times,
3996-569: The microscopic fibers to 36,000 years ago, when modern humans migrated from Africa. Several textile remnants, such as the Inca Empire's textile arts remnants, which embody the Incas' aesthetics and social ideals, serve as a means for disseminating information about numerous civilizations, customs, and cultures. There are textile museums that display history related to many aspects of textiles. A textile museum raises public awareness and appreciation of
4070-422: The more commonly used synthetic fibres. The related words " fabric " and " cloth " and " material " are often used in textile assembly trades (such as tailoring and dressmaking ) as synonyms for textile . However, there are subtle differences in these terms in specialized usage. Material is an extremely broad term basically meaning consisting of matter , and requires context to be useful. A textile
4144-927: The most common of which are for clothing and for containers such as bags and baskets . In the household, textiles are used in carpeting , upholstered furnishings , window shades , towels , coverings for tables, beds, and other flat surfaces, and in art . Textiles are used in many traditional hand crafts such as sewing , quilting , and embroidery . Textiles produced for industrial purposes, and designed and chosen for technical characteristics beyond their appearance, are commonly referred to as technical textiles . Technical textiles include textile structures for automotive applications, medical textiles (such as implants), geotextile (reinforcement of embankments), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection ), protective clothing (such as clothing resistant to heat and radiation for fire fighter clothing, against molten metals for welders, stab protection, and bullet proof vests). In
4218-471: The most important factors, while in technical textiles, functional properties are the priority. Durability of textiles is an important property, with common cotton or blend garments (such as t-shirts) able to last twenty years or more with regular use and care. Geotextiles , industrial textiles , medical textiles , and many other areas are examples of technical textiles, whereas clothing and furnishings are examples of consumer textiles. Each component of
4292-473: The office or at formal gatherings are South Africa, Bermuda, Australia and New Zealand . Since the 1990s, casual office dress has grown to include formal shorts in some British and American businesses but by no means universally. "Baggies" is also an alternative term for boardshorts (see below). Short trousers, terminating three to four inches above the knee, commonly worn by men in Bermuda (with knee-socks and
4366-641: The oldest existing example of warp ikat in Southeast Asia , is displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines . The cloth was most likely made by the native Asian people of northwest Romblon . The first clothes, worn at least 70,000 years ago and perhaps much earlier, were probably made of animal skins and helped protect early humans from the elements. At some point, people learned to weave plant fibers into textiles. The discovery of dyed flax fibers in
4440-565: The possible benefits they may have in the future. Threads coated with zinc oxide nanowires , when woven into fabric, have been shown capable of "self-powering nanosystems", using vibrations created by everyday actions like wind or body movements to generate energy. Textiles are all around us. The textile is a component of basic needs like food and shelter. Textiles are everywhere in our lives, from bath towels to space suits. Textiles help humans by comforting, protecting, and extending their lives. Textiles meet our clothing needs, keeping us warm in
4514-426: The price and required properties. Blending adds value to the textiles; it helps in reducing the cost (artificial fibers are less expensive than natural fibers) and adding advantage in properties of the final product. For instance, a small amount of spandex adds stretch to the fabrics. Wool can add warmth. Fibers from the stalks of plants, such as hemp, flax, and nettles, are also known as 'bast' fibers. Hemp fiber
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#17328518459624588-485: The sole allowing them to be rolled up to expose the foot without removing the garment. The word 'pantyhose' is not used in British English. There are many sub-classifications of tights or pantyhose that describe the precise construction (such as control top, seamless, support and sheer). Although most tights are mainly nylon or cotton , lycra is normally included in modern blends to improve fit. Athletic tights are absolute opaque and often footless, although they may have
4662-457: The sports equipment and clothing company Everlast ) as an alternative to the leather-belted trunks that boxers typically wore. They subsequently became an alternative to long underwear as well. Men's boxers as undergarments began to be presented in novelty prints and patterns from the late 1950s onwards. During the 1980s and 1990s women began to wear boxer shorts paired with T-shirts as loungewear or sleepwear. Boxer briefs , which emerged in
4736-520: The style around the world. The tourists who appropriated the style wore Bermuda shorts almost exclusively as casual wear. In the early 1990s Bermuda shorts became accepted in France as a fashionable option for women, although since the 1930s they had been increasingly established as an option for American women's fashionable sportswear . In America, despite widespread criticism, Bermuda shorts were taken up by male and female students on college campuses from
4810-654: The synthetic fiber market will reach 98.21 billion US dollars. From 2022 to 2030, the market is anticipated to increase by 5.1% per year. Monomers are the building blocks of polymers. Polymers in fibers are of two types: additive or condensation. Natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, have a condensation polymer type, whereas synthetic fibers can have either an additive or a condensation polymer type. For example, acrylic fiber and olefin fibers have additive polymers, and nylon and polyester are condensation polymers. Fiber properties influence textile characteristics such as aesthetics, durability, comfort, and cost. Fineness
4884-490: The tools used for spinning and weaving make up most of the prehistoric evidence for textile work. The earliest tool for spinning was the spindle , to which a whorl was eventually added. The weight of the whorl improved the thickness and twist of the spun thread. Later, the spinning wheel was invented. Historians are unsure where; some say China, others India. The precursors of today's textiles include leaves, barks, fur pelts, and felted cloths. The Banton Burial Cloth,
4958-619: The upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to the knees but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened version of trousers , which cover the entire leg, but not the foot. Shorts are typically worn in warm weather or in an environment where comfort and airflow are more important than the protection of the legs. There are a variety of shorts, ranging from knee-length short trousers that can in some situations be worn as formal clothes to beachwear and athletic shorts. Some types of shorts are typically worn by women, such as culottes , which are
5032-440: The wearing of tight hosiery by males has been associated with an accompanying garment fitted at the groin over the male genitalia . In the 15th century, some men wore an elaborate and decorative codpiece to accentuate their endowment. In modern times, tights intended for dancers are usually opaque, although their form-fitting nature can still reveal the exact contours of the anatomy underneath. Male ballet dancers generally wear
5106-808: The wearing of tights can reduce muscle tissue vibration. Athletic tights received some publicity during the 2005–2006 basketball season, when players started wearing the ankle-length tights under their uniform shorts . A prominent NBA player, Kobe Bryant , was one of the first to wear tights, and the style was subsequently adopted by several other NBA players, as well as some college and high school players. The style sparked controversy, leading to proposals to prohibit wearing tights with basketball uniforms. In colder temperatures outdoors, American football players sometimes wear spandex tights next to their skin beneath their normal padded stretchy, tightly fitted pants. In British English such garments are referred to as 'skins'. Athletic tights are considered unisex . Because
5180-467: The winter and cool in the summer. There are several applications for textiles, such as medical textiles, intelligent textiles, and automotive textiles. All of them contribute to the well-being of humans. The term "serviceability" refers to a textile product's ability to meet the needs of consumers. The emphasis is on knowing the target market and matching the needs of the target market to the product's serviceability. Serviceability or performance in textiles
5254-638: The word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics . However, weaving is not the only manufacturing method, and many other methods were later developed to form textile structures based on their intended use. Knitting and non-woven are other popular types of fabric manufacturing. In the contemporary world, textiles satisfy the material needs for versatile applications, from simple daily clothing to bulletproof jackets , spacesuits , and doctor's gowns . Textiles are divided into two groups: consumer textiles for domestic purposes and technical textiles . In consumer textiles, aesthetics and comfort are
5328-673: The workplace, textiles can be used in industrial and scientific processes such as filtering. Miscellaneous uses include flags , backpacks , tents , nets , cleaning rags , transportation devices such as balloons , kites , sails , and parachutes ; textiles are also used to provide strengthening in composite materials such as fibreglass and industrial geotextiles . Due to the often highly technical and legal requirements of these products, these textiles are typically tested in order to ensure they meet stringent performance requirements. Other forms of technical textiles may be produced to experiment with their scientific qualities and to explore
5402-455: Was a movable palace, is an example of the architextiles of the Mughal period . Textiles had been used as currency as well. In Africa, textiles were used as currency in addition to being used for clothing, headwear, swaddling, tents, sails, bags, sacks, carpets, rugs, curtains, etc. Along the east–west axis in sub-Saharan Africa, cloth strip, which was typically produced in the savannah, was used as
5476-598: Was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013. While the term "hotpants" is used generically to describe short shorts (see below) made in any material, similar garments had been worn since the 1930s. Very short men's shorts may also be occasionally called hotpants. Trail running shorts are typically made longer and in harder-wearing fabric that is less likely to catch and tear on protruding branches. The traditional grey flannel shorts associated with British school uniform had become well-established by
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