| have been around for many years. Homes going | | | | new designs. Also, the development of specialized |
| back as far as 4000 years ago had spaces in the | | | | spring systems allowed for new and interesting |
| walls where occupants could see to the outside, | | | | possibilities for the roller shades and their |
| as well as to get fresh air. If you doubt this, | | | | manufacturing. These systems permitted roller |
| imagine the alternative, which is a stone structure | | | | shades to roll up on their own when pulled, and to |
| with no ventilation. Occupants would also be | | | | stay up until their descent was desired. |
| vulnerable to attack, and perhaps even the theft | | | | Certainly we all know that over time the spring |
| of their belongings on the outside. However, at | | | | load roller shades deteriorate, and that was |
| that time, people tended to wake with the sun. | | | | among the major precipitators of the |
| The agrarian economy left most to be farmers, | | | | development of the chain lifted roller shades. |
| which meant the need to be working before the | | | | These chain control systems allow for a longer life |
| heat of the day. As the economies of the world | | | | to the mechanism, as well as the fabric. This |
| shifted, people began to seek out privacy and | | | | preservation of roller shade fabric is caused by |
| wanted to be able to sleep later. This modesty | | | | the decreased need to touch or pull the fabric to |
| and need to wake up a little later led to the need | | | | cause the action of the shade. Pull the chain, and |
| to cover windows. | | | | the roller shade moves to where you want it. |
| When earlier homeowners began to have actual | | | | Further enhancements have made the fabrics |
| windows, the first types of window coverings | | | | more capable such that roller shades may now be |
| were fabric cloths nailed up on the tops and | | | | used for distinct purposes. One may choose to |
| retracted to the sides. Later technological | | | | have privacy, but not limit much light with the |
| developments allowed the easier retraction of the | | | | roller shades. Others may wish to have 100% |
| fabric to the top of the windows, and thus led to | | | | darkness, or high levels of decor. All of this is now |
| the invention of the roller shade. Early roller | | | | possible as a result of the enhancements in roller |
| shades simply lifted the fabrics up and did not use | | | | shade materials. Selecting the proper roller shade |
| any mechanism to lift or lower the shades. | | | | has become a simple act of consumerism. First, |
| Roller shades, thus, began their long history soon | | | | identify a need, then find the correct product to |
| after the beginning of window treatments as a | | | | satisfy the need. |
| general product. Shades were usually made of a | | | | Durable roller shades will last for several years of |
| basic woven fabric. Roller shade specialty fabrics | | | | great enjoyment. Consumers do have many |
| were not yet invented, so consumers had to use | | | | ways to acquire them, including the traditional visit |
| what was available. These roller shades were | | | | to the hardware store. However, now, high quality |
| really only able to block some of the light, but | | | | roller shades are available from decorators as well |
| were, in fact, perfectly fine for the privacy goals | | | | as from internet retailers. In fact, due to the vast |
| of those who hung them. These roller shades | | | | assortment of roller shades fabrics on the |
| were usually made by the same people who lived | | | | market, it is likely that a consumer will find what |
| in these homes. This was convenient, as there | | | | she needs by looking on the internet. |
| was no requirement for performance of quality | | | | From the inception of the need for window |
| for these roller shades. | | | | treatments, people have selected roller shades as |
| Later, when a manufacturing economy was | | | | a style of covering that meets their needs. In |
| developed, roller shades evolved to become a | | | | most homes, an investigation will find at least a |
| manufactured product. This time, in the 1800's, | | | | single roller shade. This common prevalence is |
| for the largest part, roller shades became a great | | | | now leading to a resurgence of beautiful roller |
| and innovative product. A single ply fabric was | | | | shades, and they are growing to be more than a |
| what most shades had, but the more | | | | single shade in the house, and many consumers |
| sophisticated production of fabrics allowed for | | | | are going for a houseful of roller shades. |