Aja L. Bain
what is a textile?
"Anything made by people from fibrous materials." The Textile Museum
This includes materials made of plant, animal, or synthetic fibers that are woven, adhered, knit, spun, or otherwise processed.
Examples: cotton, linen, wool, silk, and polyester.
Although the definition of "textile" is quite broad, when we talk about textiles in a museum setting we usually mean flat cloth items like blankets, tapestries, and samplers, or three-dimensional items like clothing or accessories. These kinds of textiles are important because they can provide a unique window into the lives of everyday people in history, since many were used as household and personal items.
Woven cloth
Clothing
Felt
This site gives a brief introduction to caring for textiles in museums and at home to help others preserve these artifacts for future enjoyment and education.