Drapery study in violets and reds. Light blue/purple drapery in upper left, darker purple in center, reddish in lower left.

Different fabric types surround us daily, from our clothes to the coverings on our windows. Textiles have been an integral part of human life for thousands of years. The first use of textiles, most likely a form of wool felt, dates back to the Stone Age, nearly 100,000 years ago. Cotton, silk, and linen began appearing around 5,000 BC in India, Egypt, and China.