Spanning nearly 5000 years of textile history, this book covers the field from the first practical and decorative use of fabrics to the introduction of modern synthetic materials. Organized in an A to Z format, the work provides information on fabric, fabrication methods, machine processes (felting, weaving) and more. At the same time, the book also covers methods of producing and treating fabrics, such as block printing, calendering and delustering. Biographies of major textile and fabric innovators are also included.