Robert J Morton

The Hythe Project - Clothing

This part of the Project is at the 'Request for Information' stage. I should therefore be most grateful if you could tell me of any Internet information sources you know on the following topics.

1. What crops provide raw materials for clothing fabrics?
2. What climate types will each grow in? Database on Internet?
3. Source of information on how to grow them on a small scale?
4. How can they be processed into fabrics on a small scale?
5. Patterns and fashion guides for use with such fabrics?
6. How about the non-destructive use of animals? Hair/wool?
7. Suggested further questions?

Please send information to robmorton@clara.net. Thanks.

Raw Materials

Making Clothes

The Clothing Life-Cycle

This results in the design of an efficient laundry and cleaning/repairing environment which minimises the amount of physical and mental effort required to clothe one's family. It is flexible enough to allow great latitude in how different individuals may prefer to realise it physically.

Wearing & Changing

There are two places where people change their clothes: the bedroom and the entrance hall.

In the bedroom people change between day clothes and night clothes. When clothes become dirty they are placed in a basket to be washed. When clean clothes return from washing they are placed in drawers and cupboards ready for when they are required for wearing. New clothes are introduced when required. Old discarded clothes never return after being placed in the basket for washing.

In the entrance hall they put on or take off extra clothes and footwear needed outdoors in cold weather. These are kept in a cupboard when not in use from where they are cleaned and washed when necessary.

Washing & Repairing

Dirty clothes are collected from bedroom baskets and sorted according to the kind of washing process each requires. Batches requiring a given washing process are then washed and hung outside to dry. Extra drying is done by machine when outside drying is insufficient. Some clothes at this stage may need to be ironed or pressed. The clean dry clothes are then put to air in a heated cupboard. Ideally, bedroom storage cupboards should be equipped with warm air circulation so that freshly washed clothes can be placed straight in the bedroom cupboards where they can air until they are needed for wearing.

Clean clothes needing repair are diverted to a sewing work station before being put to air in bedroom cupboards. Clothes found to be beyond repair are placed in the rag bin to be used for cleaning rags. A similar process operates for outdoor clothing and footwear.