Party Time Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cotton

Cot + ton

The word cotton is derived from the Arabic word qutn for the plant. The cotton plant grows in many places across the world in tropical and subtropical regions. Its cultivation and use can be traced as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization (3rd to 2nd century BC).

Answer: Satin

The word crazy in the sentence is a clue that the answer is hidden in scrambled form.

Satin is a glossy fabric that is typically used to make formal evening wear like ball gowns. In recent times, it has also been used to make lingerie. Earlier made out of silk, it is named after Zayton, the former Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou along the maritime Silk Route.

Answer: Tweed

T + Weed

Tweed is a rough, woollen fabric commonly used for outdoor garments since its sturdy nature allows it to withstand a certain amount of wear and tear. Famous fictional characters depicted wearing tweed include Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones.

Answer: Velvet

Velvet can be made from both natural and synthetic fibres. It is believed to have been introduced to the Arab world by traders from the region of Kashmir. Made of silk initially, it was an expensive fabric and associated with nobility.

Answer: Linen

L in EN

Linen is produced from the fibres of the flax plant. While it is difficult to manufacture, it is especially favoured in hot and humid climates for its coolness. The textile has been used since ancient times with mentions of it even being found in the Bible.

Answer: Suede

Suede is a type of leather made mainly from the underside of lamb. It is named from the French word for Swedish. Apart from clothing, it is also used for making upholstery.

Answer: Calico

This plain woven cotton textile is named after Calicut (now known as Kozhikode), a port on the southwestern coast of India. While the plain textile is known as calico in the United Kingdom, in the United States, calico is used to refer to a printed form of the same cotton textile.

Answer: Denim

The fabric is named after the French city of Nimes. It was made popular by German American Levi Strauss who used the material to make clothes for the miners during the Gold Rush in California in the mid 19th century. The miners preferred this sturdier material to cotton clothes which easily tore.

Answer: Fleece

Fleece is a homonym for fleas.

The freedictionary defines fleece as "A soft, warm, lightweight, usually synthetic fabric with a deep pile, used primarily for clothing and blankets". The woollen coat of sheep is also referred to as fleece.

Answer: Silk

S + Ilk

Most commonly associated with China where it was first developed, silk is a natural fibre produced by insects. The best quality silk is derived from the silkworms that feed on mulberry leaves. The practice of rearing silkworms to produce the textile is known as sericulture.