Fabrics is an enthusiastic and comprehensive tour of this most versatile design element - its history, technology, and lore - sumptuously illustrated with hundreds of imaginative ideas from the world's premier contemporary designers and decorators.Following a historical introduction that tells the story of fabrics from ancient Egypt to the Industrial Revolution to the present day, the authors focus on the evolution of cotton, linen, silk, and wool. Chapters on upholstery, bed hangings, and drapery show how fabrics can be sewn, stuffed, contoured, hung, swagged, and thrown into nearly every imaginable form. Here are smart Scottish tartans draped across walls; layers of silk damask against the floor-length windows of a Parisian apartment; crisp cotton canopies on a bed in Finland; and silk-upholstered chairs at Monticello. The rich use of trim - passementerie - is explored in a chapter of its own, with a wealth of fringe, tassels, and tiebacks.In a dramatic conclusion, some of the best international decorators are showcased in "A Creative Album." A glossary and a directory of sources guide home decorators to creative uses of fabrics in their own living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Read Less