The cold winter weather has many cozying up in warm flannel shirts and blankets, but how did this warm weather staple come to be?

The earliest use of flannel can be traced back to Wales in the 16th century. Welsh cotton was a coarse wool with a fluffed feel similar to modern flannel.

Illustration of the 16th century flannel. (Contributed/nostalgiaprovidence.com)

The fabric became popular amongst farmers and working-class citizens during cold, dreary days.

Modern-day flannel began production in the 17th century, adopting its name from the French flanelle.

British colonists brought the material to America, and during the civil war, many

In the 19th century, wool production became mechanized through carding mills, increasing the distribution of the product. Soldiers were dressed in flannel undershirts and uniforms.

In 1889, the major flannel manufacturer Carhartt opened its doors in Detroit, Michigan.

Flannel trousers became popular in sports, primarily cricket, during the 1900s and remained heavily used through the 1970s.

The grunge movement of the 1990s solidified plaid flannel shirts as a teen staple, and the look is often associated with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Flannel has become synonymous with the 90s plaid shirt, but the term simply means a type of fabric.

The name refers to a woven fabric often made of wool, cotton or a synthetic fiber that is soft to the touch. Also, it is known for its warmth and moisture-wicking abilities.

These properties make it ideal for clothing, blankets, bed sheets and pajamas.

Flannel started getting its plaid association in 1936 when Cedar Springs released “the flannel.”

The item was based on the red and black Buffalo plaid shirts worn by lumberjacks, and the company’s advertisements made the product a winter staple.

From its farming roots to its grunge rebellion, the flannel remains an ever-changing staple of modern style and cultural movements.

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