There are books you read once—and there are books that change how you see the world. The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World by Virginia Postrel is firmly in the latter category.
If you love textiles, history, design, engineering, or the hidden systems that shaped civilization, like I do, this book will delight and astonish you.
I’ve listened to it three times on Kindle and keep a hard copy at my office for reference. It's not only rich in research but full of the kind of surprising, quirky details that bring history to life.
I’ve recommended it to so many friends, clients, and fellow textile lovers that I finally decided to make it official and share it here.
A Few Examples of Why I Love This Book:
-
Did you know women were the original spinners because we have skin four times thinner than men’s—giving us more sensitive touch? The best spinners were so skilled and essential that their husbands were offered jobs just to entice them to move.
-
That the famed Roman purple robes, dyed with fermented sea snails, smelled so pungent they became a status symbol—you could literally smell someone's power and wealth as they entered a room.
-
That the roots of the modern stock market began in textile trading—and that one of our own family’s Marsdens helped launch it?
This is the kind of book that weaves together the unexpected: textiles as a driver of global trade, chemical innovation, and the digital age. You’ll never look at cloth—or civilization—the same way again.
I do think it would have been valuable to include a discussion of Slater’s Mill in Massachusetts—its innovation and pivotal role in enabling the American colonies to gain industrial independence, which ultimately contributed to the start of the Revolution. Worth a visit if you are nearby.
📚 Get Your Copy:
-
- Ideal for referencing the diagrams, which are excellent visual aids.
As an affiliate partner, Kearsley may earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend resources that support the care, understanding, and appreciation of textiles.
Whether you're a designer, a curious creator, or a history buff (or all three), The Fabric of Civilization is a textile-lover’s treasure chest. I can’t recommend it enough. It is so much fun and so informative. Great for all ages and really should be taught in school. Please comment about it after you have read it.
ENJOY~
Heather Kearsley Wolf
More stories
