Classic Fabric & Textile Trends
Instructions: From polyester to plaid, how well do you remember the fabrics that defined each decade of fashion?
- 1.
What synthetic fabric, marketed as a 'miracle fiber' in the 1950s and 1960s, was promoted as wrinkle-free and wash-and-wear?
APolyesterBRayonCNylonDAcrylic - 2.
What fabric pattern, featuring large, colorful flowers, was everywhere in 1960s and 1970s fashion and home decor?
APaisleyBGinghamCFloral printDPolka dots - 3.
What checked cotton fabric, traditionally in red or blue and white, was a popular choice for 1950s casual wear and tablecloths?
AMadrasBPlaidCTartanDGingham - 4.
What teardrop-shaped print pattern, originating from Persia, became associated with hippie and bohemian fashion in the 1960s?
AArabesqueBPaisleyCBrocadeDDamask - 5.
What Indian cotton fabric, known for its bleeding, muted plaid patterns, was a preppy summer staple in the 1960s?
AMadrasBChambrayCSeersuckerDOxford cloth - 6.
What ribbed cotton fabric, popular for pants and jackets in the 1970s, was known for its distinctive ridged texture?
AVelvetBCorduroyCTweedDChenille - 7.
What puckered cotton fabric, used for summer suits and dresses, didn't need ironing and was popular in the 1950s South?
AChambrayBBroadclothCPoplinDSeersucker - 8.
What stretchy fabric, invented by DuPont in 1958, revolutionized swimwear and athletic clothing?
AElastaneBSpandex/LycraCNylonDPolyester - 9.
What plush, soft fabric with a short dense pile was popular for women's tracksuits and loungewear in the 1970s and 1980s?
AVelourBFaux furCTerry clothDFleece - 10.
What Scottish fabric pattern, featuring crisscrossing horizontal and vertical lines, was associated with punk fashion in the 1970s?
AGlen checkBHerringboneCPlaid/TartanDHoundstooth - 11.
What process of dyeing fabric by tying and knotting it before submerging in dye became a defining 1960s craft?
ATie-dyeBBlock printingCBatikDScreen printing - 12.
What double-knit polyester fabric was used to make the quintessential leisure suits of the 1970s?
ACrepeBGabardineCSingle-knitDDouble-knit polyester - 13.
What looped cotton fabric, commonly used for towels, was also fashioned into casual robes and beach cover-ups in the 1960s?
AFlannelBChenilleCMuslinDTerry cloth - 14.
What bold geometric black and white pattern, sometimes called 'Op Art,' was a major fashion trend in the mid-1960s?
AAbstract printsBMod printsCOp Art printsDStripes - 15.
What soft, brushed cotton fabric was the standard for cozy winter pajamas and nightgowns through the mid-20th century?
ACalicoBMuslinCFlannelDJersey
Answer Key
Polyester was heavily marketed as a miracle fabric in the 1950s and 1960s for its wrinkle resistance and easy care, though it later became associated with cheap fashion.
Large, bold floral prints were a defining pattern of the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on everything from dresses to curtains to wallpaper.
Gingham, a lightweight cotton fabric with a checked pattern, was hugely popular in the 1950s for summer dresses, picnic tablecloths, and casual shirts.
Paisley, with its distinctive curved teardrop motif, became closely associated with the 1960s counterculture and was used on everything from shirts to bandanas.
Madras cotton, imported from India, was famous for its bleeding plaid patterns that ran and blended when washed. It was a preppy summer essential in the 1960s.
Corduroy, with its distinctive ridged wales, was one of the most popular fabrics of the 1970s, used for pants, jackets, and even furniture upholstery.
Seersucker, with its characteristic puckered stripes, was the quintessential Southern summer fabric, popular for men's suits and women's dresses.
Spandex (marketed as Lycra by DuPont) was invented in 1958 and transformed fashion with its extraordinary stretch, especially in swimwear and athletic clothing.
Velour, a plush knit fabric, was hugely popular in the 1970s and 1980s for tracksuits, robes, and casual wear, often in jewel tones.
Tartan (plaid) was adopted by the punk movement in the 1970s, particularly through designer Vivienne Westwood, transforming a traditional fabric into a rebellion symbol.
Tie-dye became synonymous with the 1960s counterculture. Teenagers and young adults created swirling rainbow patterns on T-shirts, making each one unique.
Double-knit polyester was the fabric of the 1970s, used for leisure suits, pants suits, and dresses. It was thick, stretchy, and virtually indestructible.
Terry cloth, the same looped fabric used in towels, was used to make casual robes, beach cover-ups, and even dresses in the 1960s and 1970s.
Op Art (Optical Art) prints, with their bold black and white geometric patterns that created optical illusions, were a major 1960s fashion trend.
Flannel, a soft brushed cotton fabric, was the go-to material for winter pajamas, nightgowns, and shirts, prized for its warmth and coziness.