Silesia (Sleazy, Slesia) was a thin twilled woven cloth made of linen[1] or cotton.[2] The term denoted a wide range of fabric grades from greige goods to dyed and finished cloth. Silesia was used for various linens, for lining clothes, and in window blinds.[1] Cotton Silesia was calendered to obtain a gloss finish.[2]
History
editThe fabric was originally manufactured in Silesia, a province of Prussia.[3] Poor-grade Silesia was used to make cheap clothing in 18th-Century Britain and America, where the name was corrupted into “sleazy”. George Washington described the uniform of the Continental Army as “a suit made of thin, sleazy cloth without lining.” [4] [5]
References
edit- ^ a b Montgomery, Florence M. (1984). Textiles in America 1650-1870 : a dictionary based on original documents, prints and paintings, commercial records, American merchants' papers, shopkeepers' advertisements, and pattern books with original swatches of cloth. New York; London: Norton. p. 348. ISBN 978-0-393-01703-8.
- ^ a b Fairchild's dictionary of textiles. New York: Fairchild Publications. 1959. p. 506.
- ^ Denny, Grace Goldena (1962). Fabrics. Lippincott. p. 88.
- ^ "Fiber Word Nerds: Origin of the Word Sleazy". Handwoven. 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "sleazy". Wiktionary. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
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