Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African Art: Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente
Learn about African kente cloth, including how it is made, when to wear it, and how to wear it. Accompanying interactive lets you can design your own kente.
Smithsonian Institution
The Fabric of Moroccan Life Urban Textiles and Costumes
For hundreds of years, Moroccan women have composed fine embroideries and rugs using intricate designs that have been passed down through generations. View these exquisite textiles with large detailed images.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Art to Zoo Spinning Yarns, Telling Tales About Textiles
A great resource for introducing different types of textiles and weavings to your students. A good amount of background information is included as well as a few simple learning activities.
University of Iowa
Streaming Videos of Burkina Faso and Ghana
Dozens of streaming videos to view based on African art and culture. View examples of how masks are used in festivals and ceremonies, how pottery is formed and fired, art that is created for everyday living, weaving on a loom, funeral...
University of Manchester
Children's University of Manchester: Talking Textiles: How Are Textiles Made?
Interactive exploration of textiles and cloth derived from plants, animals, and petrochemicals.
University of Manchester
Children's University of Manchester: Talking Textiles: World Costume
Interactive resource for exploring what traditional forms of dress reveal about the culture and location of the people who wear them and the climate where they live.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Paracas Textile
One of the most extraordinary masterpieces of the pre-Columbian Americas is a nearly 2,000-year-old cloth from the South Coast of Peru. View detailed pictures and read the backstory of this textile in this essay.
Other
Alien Travel Guide: History of Weaving
This site from the Alien Travel Guide contains an outline to information on the history of weaving. The outline is in link form for easy navigation and it contains wonderful basic information.
Other
Lecture Notes: Textile Factories Come to the u.s.
Clemson University provides a historical overview of the wave of textile factories, including Slater and Lowell, that cropped up in the northeast. Hyperlinks to additional information.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Eighteenth Century European Dress
Explore fashion from the 1700's with the slideshow. Includes a discussion of popular styles, textiles and silhouettes.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victorian & Albert Museum: Introduction to 18th Century Fashion
Learn about the trends that came to define men's and women's fashion in the 1700's. Includes images and a discussion of popular fabrics and women's hairstyles.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Hearth/home Economics Education
Housed at the Mann Library, this resource contains a comprehensive set of books and journals in the field of Home Economics, many available online. Each subject area in the field has a descriptive essay plus a bibliography related to...
Other
Multicultural Literature for Children: Abuela's Weave
This lesson plan is perfect in an ESL classroom. "Abuela's Weave" is the story of a young girl from Guatemala and the beautiful tapestry she creates. Includes prereading questions, vocabulary, and activities to integrate into other...
Cornell University
Cornell University: 3 D Body Scanner
Body scanning is a new technology that is shifting the focus of apparel production from "Cookie-cutter," to "One-of-a-kind." This site gives information about the technology, visualizations of a body scan, scenarios of the production...
Other
Fabrics: Fabric Information and Facts: Wool
This resource presents information about the production of wool, the various types of wool, and a glossary of wool fabrics and weaves.
Other
Manalagi Group: Weaving in Indonesia
This site from Manalagi Inc. contains information on the weaving in Indonesia with focus on the backstrap loom. Pictures are provided and the text is somewhat in-depth, making this a great site to check out on the subject.
Other
Artisans in Focus: The Art of Weaving
This site from Artisans in Focus contains wonderful information on the art of weaving. The site is outlined in link form for easy navigation and it contains information on subjects such as: preparing the yarn, dying the yarn, natural...
Other
Native American Indian Art
This site provides illustrations and descriptions of Native American art and painting. Visual sampling of many Native American artists.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Dress for Success
In this design activity, students investigate materials engineering as it applies to weather and clothing. The students will design and analyze different combinations of materials for effectiveness in specific weather conditions....
Other
Mayan Culture: Maya Weavers
Explore the world of Mayan weaving with this colorful site! Provides photos of this ancient art, as well as links to more information on symbols, weaving techniques, materials, and more.
PBS
Art21: Ann Hamilton
Hamilton's art installations often combine soundtracks with cloth, filmed footage, organic materials, and objects. She is also interested in verbal and written language and works with photographs and performance.
Other
Silk
Information about the origin of silk and the versatile garments that are made from it. Includes a glossary of the various kinds of silk.
Curated OER
National Museum of African Art: Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente
Learn about African kente cloth, including how it is made, when to wear it, and how to wear it. Accompanying interactive lets you can design your own kente.
Curated OER
Coffin of Deceased Tanala Elder in Madagascar Is Covered With Cloth
To the people of Madagascar woven cloth is more than just something nice to wear. Come explore the topic of textiles and their importance to these African people.