Clothing and Textiles

Textiles have played a rich part in our lives. They are constructed of many materials and techniques, and they have been made from natural fibers such as cotton, flax, silk or wool or from man-made fibers such as rayon, nylon, and polyester. Textiles can be simple in structure and composition, or they can be composite objects incorporating many materials like quills, beads, metals, paints, bones, shells, feathers, and leathers.

Contemporary household furnishings, clothing, many fashion accessories, and even fragmented archeological finds may all be classified as textiles. Pieces such as quilts, tapestries, embroideries, flags, and christening gowns have been treasured for their artistic, technical, cultural, or sentimental value.

Most textiles have served as functional objects. This use, compounded by environmental factors, affects an object's condition and often results in the need for special care. Decisions on the handling, display, and storage of textiles can make the difference between a short life span and survival for generations.