In early Western Virginia history, families made most of their own clothing, blankets, and other fabric items. They used materials such as sheep’s wool, flax, and hemp. Making cloth was hard work that involved cleaning and preparing the fibers, spinning them into yarn, and weaving the yarn into fabric. Women, men, and children all helped with different parts of the process. Families used homemade fabric to make everyday clothes, work clothes, and special-occasion outfits.

During the Industrial Revolution, new machines made it possible to produce fabric much faster and in larger amounts in textile mills. Cotton, mostly imported from the South, became especially important, and factories began making cloth that was cheaper and easier for families to buy. Over time, people moved away from making all their own clothing and started purchasing factory-made fabrics. This changed how Americans made, bought, and wore clothing.