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Many cultures have legends regarding the origins of felt making. For example, Sumerian legend claims that the secret of felt making was discovered by Urnamman of Lagash. According to one European legend, the invention of felt is attributed to Saint James the apostle, who inserted tufts of wool in his sandals to soothe his feet during his evangelical travels. After some time, the wool became compacted by the pressure and sweat, and that is thought to mark the origin of felt. Another legend maintains that it was Saint Clement (not Saint James), a monk who became the fourth bishop of Rome, who placed tow (short flax or linen fibers) in his sandals and discovered that the fibers became matted together to produce felt.In Turkey, the remains of felt have been found dating back at least to 6,500 B.C.E. Highly sophisticated felted artifacts were found preserved in permafrost in a tomb in Siberia and dated to 600 C.E.For a long time, the economy of what is now Canada was based on the fur trade, the hunting of beaver (and, to a lesser extent, other animals) for the felt industry in Europe. This led to a very basic colonization, organized by fur trade companies, until governmental measures were taken to ensure a real economic and demographic development.Felt-making is still practiced by nomadic peoples in Central Asia, where rugs, tents and clothing are regularly made. Some of these are traditional items, such as the classic yurt, while others are designed for the tourist market, such as decorated slippers.

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