Abstract

Textile History, 52 (1–2), 1–4, May–November 2021 As a global journal — in terms of its authors, reviewers, editors, and publication facilities, as well as its content — the intellectual and material production of Textile History continues to be affected by the global pandemic. Although our fifty-second volume is delayed, it is robust, and the result of the efforts of so many people. As editors, we want to express our gratitude to all of those who have contributed to this issue. The eight articles presented here range chronologically from the medieval period to the late twentieth century, addressing the making of everyday, institu- tional, and fashionable dress and textiles. The approaches used to explore these enquiries vary greatly, and indeed demonstrate how diverse a field is the study of textiles. The authors included in this issue draw on an array of research methods, from material culture techniques of object study to quantitative analysis of employ- ment demographics to oral history interviews; range in focus from highly local stud- ies to considerations of global exchange; and answer questions about the social, cultural, political, and economic meaning of dress and textiles. This volume opens with an exploration of silk production as