The Fascinating History of Brocade
To truly appreciate the Contour Wave Brocade, it’s worth knowing a bit about its rich history, and as we’re a ‘lab’, we like to get a bit technical, (especially the textile people; Juliette and myself!)
The word "brocade" comes from the Italian word broccato, which means "embossed cloth" and is a decorative fabric that dates back centuries, originally crafted in China and later becoming a luxury fabric in places like Byzantium, Persia, and India. Traditionally, brocade was made from silk and often used by the nobility.
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The hallmark of brocade is its raised, intricate patterns, which are created by adding extra threads during the weaving process. These threads are often metallic, giving the fabric its characteristic sheen. Brocade designs are typically made using a Jacquard loom, a device that allows for complex patterns to be woven into the fabric with remarkable precision.
Invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in the early 1800s, the Jacquard loom revolutionized fabric production, allowing for the automated weaving of intricate designs using punched cards to control the pattern. This machine was so influential that it is considered one of the first steps towards the development of modern computing!
