Types of Linen
The history, properties and benefits of a multi-purpose fabric From your kitchen tea towel to your favourite summer jacket – linen is not only incredibly versatile; it is also all natural and amazingly durable. It’s […]
History & Science
The price of luxury: How cashmere and silk are valued
Understanding the intricacies of cashmere and silk and how manufacturers measure their quality Silk and cashmere are both stunning fabrics – sublimely soft and luxurious. However, although both are very beautiful, some of their properties […]
Tied and tested – everything you need to know about scarves
The stylish world of an indispensible accessory From ancient Rome to the modern day, the scarf has had an interesting journey. Used to cover, clean and adorn us, it has become an accessory that says […]
The History of Blouses
Past and modern trends of a wardrobe essential Coco Chanel once said that ‘Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with […]
Grand Designs: Fabric printing through the ages
From ancient oriental art to modern digital methods, here is a look at the wonderful world of textile printing. Printing, unlike dyeing, can use many colours to add a pattern on to a piece of […]
The Silk Road
A treacherous journey that shaped the modern world The Silk Road played a major part in the cultural and economic development of both Europe and Asia. This brutal route over land and sea transported far more […]
Yarn dyeing – Weaving an ancient tale of colour and quality
At Patra we pride ourselves in doing things properly – and in the world of dyes one method stands head and shoulders above the rest. Yarn dyeing produces a greater depth of colour and a […]
The wonders of spider silk
The extraordinary cloth that took three years and over a million spiders to produce At some point, most of us have probably paused to marvel at the beauty and strength of a spider’s web. And […]
Taking Silk
Where does the phrase ‘taking silk’ come from? For many barristers becoming a member of the Queen’s Counsel is the ultimate goal. The status of a QC not only has formal privileges and great financial […]
Long Johns
Where does ‘long john’ come from? World Wide Words suggest it is the long underwear worn by American soldiers during WW2. Wherever the word comes from we’ve taken this garment and added our pure silk […]