The weaving trade : in the olden days and now

Abstract

Weaving is an ancient traditional craft. We do not know when this trade was introduced in Malta. A. Mayr (1909:21), without producing any evidence, states that cotton was introduced into Malta in the 9th century by the Arabs. Hand weaving remained an important industry for many centuries. Later, after the 14th century, we find documented that Maltese cotton found good foreign markets and King Ferdinand ordered that two officials be nominated to carefully examine the cotton exported by the Maltese, ensuring good quality (Mifsud, 1913: 228-229). The export of cotton flourished increasingly, so much so that in 1472 a tax of two per cent was raised on the exported product, the money going towards the upkeep of the walls of Mdina (Mifsud, 1913: 129). The cultivation of cotton and its exportation was already a thriving industry and controlled by the local government of that time, the Università, by fixing prices and levy taxes on the spun material (Mifsud, 1913: 129). These regulations were issued from time to time by means of statutes called Bandi, and one of these was specifically intended to prevent the cotton seed from being exported to other countries.