Textiles are materials made by processing, knitting, or weaving various fibers together. They are used to make the clothes we wear, the bedding and blankets that cover our furniture, rugs, drapes, and other products. However, this is a very simplistic view of textiles and their role in society.

Throughout history, textiles have played a significant role in the development and advancement of civilizations. But that’s beyond the scope of this holiday article. Instead of rehashing history, we’ll discuss how National Textiles Day is a holiday that celebrates textiles in all their forms and is celebrated on May 3rd.

The History of National Textiles Day

National Textiles Day was founded in 2016 by Valley Forge Fabrics—a company that manufactures fabricated bedding, window treatments, and textiles for various other products. Although this holiday was created to raise awareness of textiles in the public’s mind, it has grown into a holiday that many people celebrate every year around the world.

Some Interesting Facts About Textiles

We believe you can’t celebrate National Textiles Day without knowing a few things about textiles, so we decided to research and list some interesting facts about these materials.

• The oldest known natural textile fabric is flax, which has been produced for over 7,000 years.
• For hundreds of years, China has been the largest manufacturer and exporter of silk.
• The first man-made fiber was Rayon, created in 1910.
• Rayon was called “artificial silk” when it was first introduced to the public.
• Microfiber was invented more than two decades ago in Japan.
• Microfiber is 100 times finer than a human hair.
• Nylon is another man-made fiber that was first produced in 1938.
• Linen becomes stronger when wet than when it is dry.

Observing National Textiles Day

One way to celebrate this holiday is by reflecting on how textiles affect our daily lives. Another is to learn more about textiles and how they were responsible for funding the Mughal Empire or even the Renaissance. You can also celebrate by spreading the word about it on social media using the hashtag #NationalTextilesDay.