A sample of the fiber known as Modal, packaged like a miniature bale of cotton. The fiber is wrapped in fabric, and held in place by gold colored wire. On the fabric this is written: MODAL MODAL MAKES THE WORLD A SOFTER PLACE. The bale and the fiber are white, the printing is black. Manufactured by Lenzing Fibers, Inc., ca. 2008
Samples of three (3) of the steps in making the fiber known as Tencel. The three steps, from wood chips to fiament, are in separate plastic bags. The three plastic bags are stapled together. A paper tag attached at the top says Tencel. Manufactured by Lenzing Fibers, Inc.
This is a booklet about the fiber known as Tencel, manufactured by Lenzing Fibers, Inc. Published in 2008. The cover is blue, white and black, and features a photograph of a women in a white dress. The title is "Tencel The New Age Fiber." The booklet is published to educate the textile industry and the general public about the man-made fiber known as Tencel.
A large bag of white hollow Ingeo fiber. The bag has a white label adheared to it, bearing the makers name, and technical information
about the fiber. The fiber was made and donated by Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc.,(Division of Cha Technologies Group) in Johnson City, Tennessee. Ingeo fiber is made from lactic acid derived from corn and beet sugars.
The label says: Product Description: 7 DPF x 2.5" TYPE 820 / Polymer Types(s): PLA
A large bag filled with white Ingeo fiber made by Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. (Division of Cha Technologies Group) in Johnson City, Tennessee. Ingeo fiber is made from lactic acid derived from corn and beet sugars.
A paper label is adhered to the bag, it says: ""Product description: 3 PDF x 3" Type 821 / Polymer Type (s) : PLA
Cross-section: Round Solid"
The fiber is made in Tennessee, by Fiber Innovations Technology, 398 Innovation drive. Johnson City, Tn 37604
A large plastic bag containing white, Ingeo fiber made by Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. of Johnson City, Tennessee. The bag has a white label which says: "Product description : 3 DPF x 3" Type 821 / Polymer Type(s): PLA" Ingeo fiber is made from lactic acid derived from corn and beet sugars. Cross section: round, solid.
Fiber sample; undyed. Recycled polyester Eco Fiber, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Recycled from plastic soda and water bottles. Part of a display that included the crushed bottles, the plastic pellets, the fiber, undyed and dyed, and the finished products, first displayed at the American Textile History Museum, Lowell, MA.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.5; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
Fiber sample; dyed red. Recycled polyester Eco Fiber, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Recycled from plastic soda and water bottles. Part of a display that included the crushed bottles, the plastic pellets, the fiber, and the finished products, first displayed at the American Textile History Museum, Lowell, MA.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.4; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
Sample of white regenerated cellulose fiber for spinning into yarn in a small (3 " x 6") clear plastic bag. The words "Fiber From Bamboo C" are written in ink on the bag. Tuscarora Yarns Inc.
Hong Kong Food City Co., LTD., Hong Kong, China, 2002
Obverse Image: Depiction of phoenix coin at center, denomination to the left and in top right corner, name of issuing authority at top, date at bottom.
Obverse Text: [NEEDS TRANSLATION]
Reverse Image: Four lines of instructions at left, text in the shape of a square at right.
Length or bundle of red-dyed polyester fiber in sliver form; red, 100% PCR PET polyester, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Stage in the processing of plastic bottles into polyester fleece.
First introduced by Malden Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1979, owner Aaron Feuerstein chose NOT to patent the invention, allowing it to be copied around the world. Malden Mills was devastated by a fire in 1995, and although Feuerstein tried to keep the company afloat and operating in New England until 2001, through some bankruptcies, reorganizations, and sale of assets, production was finally relocated to Tennessee and New Hampshire in 2015, under the name Polartec LLC.
Polyester fleece from recycled plastic bottles was at first considered an ecological boon as it kept these plastics out of the landfills and the oceans. Recent scientific inquiry has found that the microfibers that are washed off of fleece materials in daily use find their way into the world’s waterways and since they do not degrade, have also begun to show up in fish. This is an important story of invention, evaluation, reassessment; the importance of science and scientific inquiry, and the importance of continued review of the impact of human actions on the environment.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.3; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
This basket was bought in Luquillo in 1979. The hanging supports are made of bejuco, processed fiber from the century plant, or maguey. A large metal disk was placed around the top to keep rodents from crawling into it from above. Widely used in rural kitchens, it is called a canestillo in the center of the island and a barandillo in the north.
Description (Spanish)
Esta canasta colgante fue adquirida en Luquillo en 1979. Los soportes están hechos de bejuco, fibra procesada del maguey. Se colocó un disco de metal grande alrededor de la parte superior para evitar que se introdujeran los roedores. Se utiliza mucho en las cocinas rurales y se la conoce como canestillo en el centro de la isla y como barandillo en el norte.
Carpet, (or possibly a coverlet); red, brown, and natural; Jacquard woven with single and double woven sections; 1875-1914. Warp A is S-twist 2 ply, natural wool. Warp B is S-twist 2 ply, red wool(?); Selvage S-twist 4 ply white cotton. The cotton yarns are present for only 1/4 inch. Weft A Z-twist single of natural brown wool. the yarn is composed of black, dark and medium brown, and tan fibers, likely natural shades of wool rather than dyed fibers. Weft C is S-twist, 2 ply white cotton(?). Microscopic and chemical analysis will be required to determine the exact fibers used in the yarns, but it appears visually and texturally to be a blend of mohair and naturally colored wools with the exception of the red-dyed yarn. Thread count - 14 x 13 on each single layer, 28 x 26 for the 2 layers combined
The central field is 33" x 64" with a vermicelli design. it is bordered on all sides by sylized artichoke found in "Pomegranate" Pattern brocades of the Italian Renaissance, stylized art nouveau looking flower or palmette motif, framed with ogee curves, and ribboned garland motifs. The border designs are reminisicent of hybridized revival styles of the 19th century and may have been trying to evoke Asiatic motifs popular in the Aesthetics Movement. The border is 16" wide on all sides. The repeat unit in the border is 16" x16'. The style of the pattern with the open cetnral field makes it more likely to have been a carpet than a coverlet.
There is a note in the accession file that this piece was laundered in a washing machine possibly removing any sizing on the yarns and changing the overall texture. If this piece were predominantly sheep's wool, it would have felted in the washing machine from the soap, hot water, agitation combination. More work is defintely needed to determine exactly from what materials this object is constructed. This coverlet was purchased at an auction by the vendor in Hartwick, NY in 1980. It was washed in a washing machine prior to its purchase, which would have affected its original feel. That treatment may have radically altered the texture, i.e. removed the sizings and initated felting.
