Fabric

March 1, 2023

Continuing in the tradition of her previous works, Finlay (Color: A Natural History of the Palette; Jewels: A Secret History; The Brilliant History of Color in Art) uses her travels to explore the extraordinarily rich and varied history of textiles across the world. Divided into 11 chapters covering everything from barkcloth in the South Pacific to cotton, wool, pashmina, and more, the book interweaves the rich, detailed history of each type of cloth with stories from the author's investigative travels to the countries and communities that produce these fabrics. Written during a period in Finlay's life when she experienced significant personal loss, the chapters often focus more on her lived experiences and her own explorations than the in-depth history some readers may be looking for. However, these elements, which help the book read like a travel narrative or memoir as opposed to a more straightforward reference volume, also make the book accessible to a wider variety of readers and researchers. Illustrations, photographs, maps, and extensive notes complete the volume. VERDICT A solid addition for any library with a particularly robust fashion or textiles collection.--Whitney Kramer

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2022
Following her parents' deaths, Finlay travels the world exploring the material and cultural history of fabrics from ancient linens to modern synthetics. She uncovers ecosystems--communities, plants, animals, technologies--that have produced textiles for millennia. ""Everything is about balance,"" she concludes; spinning must keep up with weaving, supply with demand. Imbalances change history. Demand for cotton, for example, spurred the growth of the East India Company, the Industrial Revolution, and the transatlantic slave trade. Initially, Finlay is off-kilter with grief, like a spindle out of balance. Immersion in the people, myths, and tactile experiences of fabrics brings her back to center. Fabric bundles history, travelogue, and memoir, flowing easily between exposition, narrative, and intimate accounts of Finlay's travels and her grief. The writing is authoritative and engaging, packed with memorable vignettes and trivia: for example, seamstresses from a lingerie factory constructed the first NASA spacesuits. In Scotland, Finlay discovers hidden colors and patterns woven into tweed; in Fabric, she reveals dimensions and textures from the material world woven into human history.

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