Childhood memories in the form of fabric: Why we long for certain materials

"Emotions and memories are closely intertwined with our sensory experiences. This is how we carry childhood memories into the present day."

There are impressions, colours, fabrics and scents that instantly transport us back to the past, as if on a journey through time. The soft fur of our favourite cuddly toy. The familiar floral pattern on the duvet. The unmistakable smell of Grandma’s living room. The salty taste on our lips after a swim in the sea.

Early childhood memories and unconscious perception

Childhood is a formative phase in every person’s life. Memories from this time run deep, influence us forever and shape our self-image. How far back our memories go is a subject of much research. However, the scientific community remains divided.

‘Early childhood amnesia’ is the name given to the phenomenon that prevents us from remembering the first years of our lives. For a long time, researchers thought that this mysterious forgetting was proof that babies and toddlers had brains too immature to store memories.

In reality, new findings show that our earliest years do not sink into oblivion forever, but are preserved in various forms. And that many factors influence what we will remember later: language, emotions and touch determine which impressions will stay with us later in life. According to neuroscientist Nick Turk-Browne, babies are actually capable of storing experiences from as early as their first year of life.

Newborns learn to recognise their mother’s scent, remember movement patterns and recognise very simple connections. From this, they build

their first picture of the world.

The stuff memories are made of

Long before we learn to speak, we experience our surroundings through touch. It conveys warmth, closeness and security. Our sense of touch is closely linked to the limbic system – the part of the brain responsible for emotions and memories. That is why, even as toddlers, we react so sensitively to materials and to how fabrics feel against our skin. A high-quality cotton fabric that smells of home will trigger a sense of calm, whilst synthetic or rough surfaces can subtly induce stress. This physical sensation is not just about softness, but also about temperature regulation, breathability and the specific weight of textiles. Our bodies remember, even subconsciously, what feels good.

We continue to long for such materials even as adults. Covering ourselves with a blanket whose fabric triggers positive associations on the skin instantly gives us a sense of security.

Implicit and explicit memory

Studies show that even things from our childhood that seem to have been forgotten are not lost forever. We simply lose access to our memories. When such connections become almost tangible again, we speak of a ‘feeling of familiarity’, similar to déjà vu. This stems from what is known as ‘implicit memory’. It is the subconscious memory that operates automatically and helps us to evaluate everyday life in terms of routines and patterns without having to think about it consciously. This experience begins in early childhood.

A gut sense of security

The fact that we find it so difficult to remember our earliest childhood years has to do not only with the brain, but also with how much our perspective on the world – and the world itself – changes over the years. New impressions and old memory traces no longer fit together.

This is where objects and certain materials play an important role. Early sensory impressions shape our perceptions for a lifetime; materials become emotional anchors. This works both consciously and subconsciously.

Fine natural materials such as high-quality long-staple cotton, linen and silk create a space for relaxation. They give us the feeling of having arrived.

Stories convey memories

But language also has a very significant influence on our memories. The timing of our first childhood memory is highly culture-dependent. European respondents can usually recall events that took place after the age of three and a half. Children growing up in East Asian cultures usually have memories from a later age. Study participants with a Māori background, on the other hand, already have memories from the age of two and a half.

The significant memory advantage of Māori children can be explained by the high importance parents attach to discussing events they have experienced. It is not only important to talk about memories, but also to contextualise the emotions. In Māori families, conversations are often particularly detailed, focusing on shared stories and feelings. This so-called ‘elaborative style’ is a good way to train ‘explicit memory’, that is, conscious recall.

To do this, you ask children questions such as:

• “What did you like best about our trip?”
• “Which animal at the zoo would you like to see again?”
• “Tell me what you liked most about that animal.”



It is the stories linked to emotions that stimulate conscious memories. If these are refreshed time and again, they can be carried into adulthood. Even if this may mean that memories change over the years, they remain valuable and carry important emotions into the present.