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Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres

Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres
Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres
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.
regenerated protein fibres, textiles, fashion, second world war, collecting, rubbish theory, conservation
1904982174
33-40
Archetype Publications
Brooks, Mary M.
cf44ae8e-ed4b-4394-a1ae-d434a898cf08
Rogerson, C.
Garside, P.
Brooks, Mary M.
cf44ae8e-ed4b-4394-a1ae-d434a898cf08
Rogerson, C.
Garside, P.

Brooks, Mary M. (2006) Forgotten fibres : issues in the collecting and conservation of regenerated protein fibres. Rogerson, C. and Garside, P. (eds.) In The Future of the Twentieth Century: Collecting, Interpreting and Conserving Modern Materials. Archetype Publications. pp. 33-40 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

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.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Venue - Dates: AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies: The future of the twentieth century - collecting, interpreting and conserving modern materials, Winchester, UK, 2005-07-26 - 2005-07-28
Keywords: regenerated protein fibres, textiles, fashion, second world war, collecting, rubbish theory, conservation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 37957
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/37957
ISBN: 1904982174
PURE UUID: 872bf652-f06f-4c7d-94c0-36fbf4dbb3b7

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 May 2006
Last modified: 08 Dec 2023 18:03

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Contributors

Author: Mary M. Brooks
Editor: C. Rogerson
Editor: P. Garside

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