Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres
Brooks, Mary M. (2006) Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres. In, Rogerson, C. and Garside, P. (eds.) The Future of the Twentieth Century: Collecting, Interpreting and Conserving Modern Materials. AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies: The future of the twentieth century - collecting, interpreting and conserving modern materials London, UK, Archetype, 33-40.
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Description/Abstract
As pressure mounted in mid-twentieth century Europe and America, planners were increasingly anxious about the availability of wool for military purposes. Research into substitutes focused on transforming milk, soya and maize protein into wool-like fibres; experiments were undertaken into the fibre-forming potential of egg white, feathers, fish and slaughterhouse waste. Manufacturers and politicians shared a common interest in developing these fibres, named azlons, for the war effort. Companies such as Atlantic Research Associates in America and Imperial Chemical Industries in England were directly promoting their new milk-based fibres to female consumers, making their purchase a patriotic act. Nowadays, regenerated protein fibres are being marketed as high quality ecological and biodegradable fibres. This paper presents a brief survey of development of azlon fibres together with a review of technical aspects of their production. Few examples of mid-twentieth century azlon textiles and garments have yet been identified in museum collections and accounts of their development no longer appear in standard textile histories. Issues relating to this ‘disappearance’ from cultural memory are discussed. Thompson’s rubbish theory is used to explore attitudes to the collecting of man-made materials. The implications of this for conservation practice in both identifying and treating these fibres is reviewed.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| ISBNs: | 1904982174 (hardback) |
| Related URLs: | |
| Keywords: | regenerated protein fibres, textiles, fashion, second world war, collecting, rubbish theory, conservation |
| Subjects: | T Technology > TS Manufactures D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D731 World War II A General Works > AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General) |
| Divisions: | University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Art |
| Item ID: | 37957 |
| Date Deposited: | 26 May 2006 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Mar 2012 13:28 |
| Contributors: | Brooks, Mary M. (Author) Rogerson, C. (Editor) Garside, P. (Editor) |
| Date: | 2006 |
| Status: | Published |
| Publisher: | Archetype |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/37957 |
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