Most antique textiles are composed of natural fibers that may include wool, cotton , linen or silk. The information in this fact sheet will focus on the preservation of natural fiber textiles. Historic textiles that are composed of synthetic fibers may pose unique problems that may require consultation with a professional conservator. There are a variety of factors that contribute to the degradation of textiles. Both visible and Ultraviolet Light are responsible for textile damage.
Visible light is the wavelength of light that is detected by the human eye.
Textiles are highly susceptible to fading and structural degradation due to light exposure. Ultraviolet light is the invisible high energy portion of the spectrum. Ultraviolet is the most damaging type of light. It is capable of causing the greatest amount of damage within the shortest period of time. Ultraviolet is present in sunlight and it is also emitted by many light bulbs.