Handwoven

/ˌhændˈwoʊvən/ adjective

Definition

Fabric or textiles that are made by weaving threads together by hand rather than with a machine.

Etymology

Compound of 'hand' (Old English 'hand') and 'woven' (past participle of 'weave' from Old English 'wefan'), becoming common in the 20th century to market artisanal goods.

Kelly Says

Handwoven became a luxury marketing term only after industrial looms made machine-woven fabric dominant—essentially, before 1800, almost everything was handwoven, but calling it that would have been as silly as saying 'hand-harvested apples' before tractors existed.

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