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It always amazes me to think about the influence of the industrial revolution and mass production. Prior to the industrial period, things like linens, blankets,

It always amazes me to think about the influence of the industrial revolution and mass production. Prior to the industrial period, things like linens, blankets, lace, etc. considered extremely valuable and were part of your estate to be inherited by future generations. The only textile that retains a portion of this (aura? mystique?) is silk - but even this is largely mass produced now.

x3iv130f 6y ago
Mass production only looks at the supply side. I don't think it fully explains consumer behavior. The advent of mass marketing and consumerism has given an expectation for everything to be convenient and disposable. Those linens, blankets, and lace even if hand made from the finest fabrics are to discarded once they are out of fashion.
- bryananderson 6y ago
  This too is explained by mass production. Without it, the ability to regularly discard linens and blankets and buy new ones due to fashion would be out of reach of all but the wealthiest.
  - nullserver 6y ago
    https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65506/super-luxe-history-pineapples-and-why-they-used-cost-8000 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65506/super-luxe-history... Pineapples used to be rented for parties. It’s why a lot old decorations had so many in it.
mc32 6y ago
There may be some rare exceptions like woolen blankets and such made in low batches by artisanal folks. They are relatively expensive but not by historical standards (one months earnings, for example, but may be a couple of days or more for a middle class earner.) On the other hand you can get nice down covers for cheap.
inglor_cz 6y ago
As late as the 1920s, there were city thieves specializing in stealing bed linens that were being dried outside on the fresh air and selling them through a network of fences. Nowadays, I cannot think of anybody who would ever buy second-hand bed sheets.

x3iv130f 6y ago

Mass production only looks at the supply side. I don't think it fully explains consumer behavior. The advent of mass marketing and consumerism has given an expectation for everything to be convenient and disposable. Those linens, blankets, and lace even if hand made from the finest fabrics are to discarded once they are out of fashion.

bryananderson 6y ago
This too is explained by mass production. Without it, the ability to regularly discard linens and blankets and buy new ones due to fashion would be out of reach of all but the wealthiest.
- nullserver 6y ago
  https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65506/super-luxe-history-pineapples-and-why-they-used-cost-8000 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65506/super-luxe-history... Pineapples used to be rented for parties. It’s why a lot old decorations had so many in it.

mc32 6y ago

There may be some rare exceptions like woolen blankets and such made in low batches by artisanal folks. They are relatively expensive but not by historical standards (one months earnings, for example, but may be a couple of days or more for a middle class earner.) On the other hand you can get nice down covers for cheap.

inglor_cz 6y ago

As late as the 1920s, there were city thieves specializing in stealing bed linens that were being dried outside on the fresh air and selling them through a network of fences. Nowadays, I cannot think of anybody who would ever buy second-hand bed sheets.