- It is still not certain when the weaving process was introduced to human society. It is clear from many historical records that weaving originated long before the time of Jesus Christ. Except few activities else where, the major developments in textile took place in England. In England the major shift from agriculture to woolen industry came in the 14th century. During all these years and a few hundred years after 14th century, the cloth was produced on hand-looms which were not equipped with fly shuttle. Prior to Industrial Revolution, woven fabrics was produced by atleast two people employed on loom.
In 1733, John Kay invented the fly shuttle which enabled weft to be inserted more rapidly. John Kay, a weaver, further incorporated a mechanism with which, a weaver could sit at the centre of the loom and merely pull the handle to make the shuttle move from one end of the fabric to insert a weft thread.
As a result of increased weaving speed, the hand spinning method of yarn production could not meet the requirement of fly shuttle looms and subsequently the mechanical spinning also developed rapidly in Britain with Hargreave's spinning Jenny (1770), Ark Writh's spinning machine (1769) and cromption spinning mule (1779). The development of the mechanical spinning system induced further developments in the loom. Edmund Cart Wright, an English clergy man, invented a so called powerloom which could be operated from a single point by two strong man.