How many similarities can a conversation in a fashion house have with a similar one in a geography club? Much more than you can imagine. The process of clothing has been fascinating for centuries. All kinds of tailors and clothing creators around the world have experimented with a multitude of fabrics and materials, coming from all over the world. Some of these fabrics are very familiar to us, we use them every day or see them in the windows of fashion houses. However, their origin is not as well known. That is, the name they bear and which comes directly from a geographical destination (city, region, or even an entire country). In some cases, strange stories arise from these names. How about we list the most striking examples?
Cashmere
This special woolen fabric combines great insulation (which provides warmth) and an extremely soft feel. Cashmere is much warmer and lighter than sheep’s wool, which is why it is widely used not only for outerwear, but also for conventional clothing (e.g. sweaters) and shoes. Here the word is clear and cannot be misinterpreted. Kashmir is a particularly mountainous region, on the India-Pakistan-China border, one of the “hottest” regions on the planet with frequent bloody incidents with the armies of the three states.
Satin
Who does not know this thin shiny fabric, which due to its softness is intertwined with luxury and the manufacture of underwear? This fabric is characterized by a soft, shiny surface on one side, with a duller surface on the other. This is a result of the weaving of natural fibers from the very expensive silk, which, as is known, was first used in China. The word “satin” (satin in French, the language of fashion) comes directly from the Arabic “zaitun”. This is how Arab merchants called the famous Chinese port, which was first mentioned on European maps as “Sitong” and then as “Canton”, to prevail in recent years with the Chinese pronunciation of “Guangzhou”. From there, the first silk weaving came to Europe.
Taffeta
Another silk-based fabric (recently, taffeta fabrics are also made with synthetic fibers, nylon, polyester, etc.) which, due to its shiny appearance, is used for formal wear, but also for curtains, tablecloths and other household items. Heavy taffeta is a fabric that “stands up” and does not wrinkle, so it is ideal for evening gowns. This particular weave comes from the Persian city of Taft in the Khorasan region, in present-day Iran.
Jeans (Denim)
The well-known (and now scattered all over the world) trousers have been inextricably linked to the USA and Levi Strauss, however, the fabric comes from somewhere much closer to us. In fact, this durable fabric has two origins, hence its different names. The rough weave and durability (a similar fabric was used to make sails for sailing ships) led many European sailors to adopt it not only for their attire on board, but also when they went out to the ports to have fun. The word jeans, therefore, comes directly from Gênes, which is how the French still call Genoa, one of the most important historical ports in Europe. And because the fabric quickly spread to nearby French ports, the French (and those who first came into contact with them) preferred to call it “denim”, meaning “from Nîmes”!
Trenchcoat
This specific fabric, with a diagonal weave, can be made of cotton, wool, mixed, or synthetic, matte or shiny. It is waterproof, however, and this is its main characteristic. So much so that it is used almost exclusively for men’s outerwear, over formal suits. Its origin is from the Caucasus region and the Kabardinka region, which is (along with neighboring Balkar) one of the small autonomous republics of the Russian Federation in terms of area and population.
Damascus
This particular fabric pattern was one of the most difficult a few centuries ago, when weaving was done by hand. The design of the fabric is created through weaving, which is a combination of two different weaving techniques. Different fabrics can be used in Damascus patterns, such as silk, linen, cotton and wool. The connection with Damascus, the capital of the long-suffering Syria, which for centuries was a leading cultural center in the Middle East, is obvious.
Tweed
A rough fabric usually made from wool. The fibers can be plain or diagonally woven. It is an extremely warm, durable fabric that is thick and stiff. Due to its durability, it was (and still is) very popular for “everyday” clothing, mainly men’s suits, but also for so-called “country clothes”, mainly in the United Kingdom. This is because tweed was first used in the inner border region between England and Scotland, by peasants on the banks of the river of the same name.
Jersey
This is a soft, elastic, knitted fabric that was originally made from wool. Today, jersey is also made from cotton, cotton blends and synthetic fibers. Its main characteristic is that it does not fray when cut. It comes from the small island of the same name (Jersey), part of the so-called Channel Islands, which belongs to Great Britain (special administrative region), but is located just a few miles from the French coast of Normandy.
Organza
A light, clean, simply woven fabric that was originally made from silk and has created confusion about its origin. It is certain that it was first made in the weaving mills of the Zhejiang province of China, on the banks of the huge Yangtze River. But its name comes from the city of Urgench, which is now in Turkmenistan. This particular city does not exist as a settlement today, but in the Middle Ages it was one of the most important centers on the Silk Road, the trade route that connected Europe with the Far East.
Muslin
Muslin is a fabric that is smooth, light, soft and very transparent. It is woven and therefore ideal for… light appearances. It was the most widespread fabric in the harems of the East, for obvious reasons… Its origin is from the city of Mosul, located in northern Iraq and later became known for the significant oil deposits located in its subsoil.
