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A review by elcilor
The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World by Virginia Postrel
I found "The Fabric of Civilization" to be a fascinating book, brimming with information about the historical process of clothing production and the various facets involved. The manufacturing and sale of clothing, in turn, exerted significant influence on civilization. For instance, combating a parasitic disease in silkworms eventually led to Pasteur's vaccines against anthrax and rabies. The time-consuming clothing production played a pivotal role in driving the Industrial Revolution. Weaving patterns reappear in computer science and mathematics.
The dyeing of clothing over the centuries has had a profound impact on chemistry. Moreover, for many centuries, the raw materials of clothing were one of the most crucial commodities in trade, sometimes even serving as currency. While I would have liked to see more exploration of the negative aspects of clothing, such as slavery, sweatshops, animal suffering and environmental damage – which are (if at all) only sporadically touched upon in the story – it was a pleasure to read. Facts like the amount of thread needed for a queen-size bedsheet cover (47 km, equivalent to over half a year of full-time work in the Bronze Age) make me realize how fortunate I am to live in the 21st century, where the Industrial Revolution has significantly eased the lives of many people.
Additionally, the last chapter speculating on possible future developments was highly interesting. It discussed clothing that might require minimal washing in the future, as it could self-eliminate bacteria, or clothing made of polyethylene that doesn't heat the body but rather cools it by allowing body radiation to pass through. Overall, it's a splendid book that clearly illustrates the intricate connection between clothing and human civilization.
The dyeing of clothing over the centuries has had a profound impact on chemistry. Moreover, for many centuries, the raw materials of clothing were one of the most crucial commodities in trade, sometimes even serving as currency. While I would have liked to see more exploration of the negative aspects of clothing, such as slavery, sweatshops, animal suffering and environmental damage – which are (if at all) only sporadically touched upon in the story – it was a pleasure to read. Facts like the amount of thread needed for a queen-size bedsheet cover (47 km, equivalent to over half a year of full-time work in the Bronze Age) make me realize how fortunate I am to live in the 21st century, where the Industrial Revolution has significantly eased the lives of many people.
Additionally, the last chapter speculating on possible future developments was highly interesting. It discussed clothing that might require minimal washing in the future, as it could self-eliminate bacteria, or clothing made of polyethylene that doesn't heat the body but rather cools it by allowing body radiation to pass through. Overall, it's a splendid book that clearly illustrates the intricate connection between clothing and human civilization.