Renowned author Virginia Postrel to discuss new book, global history of textiles

Alongside the White Oak Legacy Foundation, the Department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (CARS) in UNC Greensboro’s Bryan School of Business and Economics is proud to sponsor an upcoming discussion with renowned author Virginia Postrel on her new book The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World.

Textiles are one of the oldest technologies in the world, but not many people understand the history or evolution of the industry. From weavers to the Industrial Revolution, Postrel will discuss innovations and the role of different types of textiles in the world as we know it, dating back to the origin of textiles in ancient Greece.

Postrel will discuss her new book at Revolution Mill in Greensboro on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. The talk will be in the same area as the new Revolution Mill exhibit called “Innovations in Blue.”

The clothing industry — denim in particular — has been important to the identity and history of Greensboro, earning it the nickname “Jeansboro.” The White Oak Legacy Foundation is a Greensboro non-profit dedicated to the preservation of the Southern United States’ heritage of denim fabric manufacturing and blue jean production, focusing on education, history, production of authentic fabrics, and innovation.

If you are interested in this event, you can read more on the White Oak Legacy website. Attendance for the discussion is free, with a reception after for Postrel.

The CARS department at the Bryan School is one of the oldest and most esteemed programs at UNCG, recently celebrating its 100th year on campus. About 300 students are currently majoring in CARS, according to Dr. Nancy Nelson Hodges, Burlington Industries Excellence Professor and CARS department head. The majority of the department’s graduates go on to work in the apparel industry with careers in design, production, marketing, distribution, and new technologies.

Postrel’s previous books include The Power of Glamour, The Substance of Style, and The Future and Its Enemies.

Written by Eric Jackson ’23 MBA