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The workmanship and export of textiles has been carefully supervised by governments throughout Egyptian history. It was considered as an important part of the Egyptian economy. The processes and methods of making textiles, as well as materials used, steadily improved from Ancient Egypt to the Islamic era. Cities began to specialize in types of fabric and the Egyptian textile industry became famous. |
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| Materials used to Make Textiles in Ancient Egypt |
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The majority of Ancient Egyptian textiles were made of linen, which comes from flax plants. Textiles have also been found that were made from sheep's wool, goat hair, palm fibers, grass, and reeds. |
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| Weaving Textiles in Ancient Egypt |
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Once fibers were removed from the plant or animal, they were spun using a spindle and then woven into a textile using a range of weave patterns. |
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| Trade in Textiles During the Islamic Period |
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The textile industry contributed greatly to Egypt's foreign trade. Cities such as Tennis and Alexandria exported fabrics throughout the Byzantine Empire and to upper-class Europeans. |
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| Islamic Government Control of Textiles |
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The textile industry grew during the Middle Ages as the Islamic government established public and private factories, controlled raw materials, and employed officials to ensure the textiles met quality standards. |
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| Wool and Cotton Production in Islamic Egypt |
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In the Islamic period, wool was considered the second most important raw material for making fabric after linen. Cotton production, however, was limited and might have been mixed with linen and wool. |
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| Islamic Cities Famous for Silk |
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Silk became the third most popular raw material for textiles in Islamic Egypt after linen and wool. Several cities, especially Alexandria, became famous for their silk textiles. |
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