The History of Flannel Fabric
Flannel is a popular fabric made up of wool or cotton fibers that is well known for being warm. Though the fabric was once only known as the choice of lumberjacks and farmers it has worked its way into mainstream men's fashion over the last several years. Does this Spark an idea?
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First Impressions
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The first flannel fabric is believed to have been of fine wool in Wales in the 16th century. The Welch used the fabric to make warm winter clothing. Use of flannel moved from Wales to France in the 17th century and then to Germany in the 19th century. In the 20th century, when flannel fabric began to be used in North America, the wool began to be mixed with or substituted by cotton, silk and other synthetic materials.
Historic Uses
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The first flannel fabric was used to make warm clothes to combat the winter cold. As use of this fabric became well known, the warm wool was used to make early baseball and football uniforms. The warmth and durability of the fabric was noticed by blue collar workers, particularly farmers, lumberjacks, and other men who work outdoors in the elements. Flannel shirts, jackets and undergarments quickly grew in popularity among blue collar workers during the 20th century.
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The Grunge Movement
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In the 1990's a fashion movement fueled by a new genre of rock music, referred to as grunge rock, helped to mainstream clothes made from flannel fabric. The trend started in the Pacific Northwest, particularly Seattle, Washington, and quickly spread through the rest of the United States. Flannel clothing was popularized by grunge musicians who favored the fabric, such as the members of Nirvana. The most popular outfit of the grunge era was wearing a plaid flannel shirt over a T-shirt with blue jeans and combat boots.
Other Historic Uses
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Historically, flannel has been used for everything from sports uniforms to bedding. Besides being used for warm winer clothing, some of the first uses of flannel was in blankets and bedding. Often flannel was used to line waterproof clothing, not only for its warmth but also because of its soft texture. As the fabric became more popular it began to be used to create more types of clothing, including pajamas and jackets.
Modern Uses
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Currently, the most popular use of flannel is as clothing. Plaid flannel shirts are still popular with blue collar workers, but use of the fabric has been popularized by the fashion industry. Flannel is used to make not only shirts, jackets and undergarments but also skirts, dresses, vests and fashion accessories. Flannel is also used to make bed sheets, particularly for use in cold winter climates, and as backing for blankets to increase warmth.
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