An historic archive detailing more than 100 years of Bradford's textile heritage is to be opened up to the public.

The 4,000-item collection, of textile samples from around the world, was once hidden away in storeroom cupboards and attics.

But now it is to be unveiled to the public when the Bradford Textile Archive is officially opened at Bradford College tomorrow.

College archivist Anne Crowther said: "The archive goes as far back as the 1870s and gives a good insight into just how international the Bradford textile industry was.

"It shows what the industry was doing to keep up with designs in other countries and the workbooks of textile students studying at the college in the early 1900s show just what they were doing at the time."

The archive, including collections from India and France, is made up of fabric samples from trade fairs around the world, to which Ms Crowther believes tutors at the college would have subscribed.

The collection includes fabrics designed by Salvador Dali in the 1930s, samples from India dating back to the 1870s when the country was trying to boost its own textile trade and targeting UK centres such as Bradford, and college work dating from 1900 to 1930.

There are also plans to start up a contemporary collection if there is space.

"The samples demonstrate what was being produced worldwide, which is why they came to the college," said Ms Crowther.

"And there is such a wide range of fabrics, ranging from rich, opulent fabrics like the jacquards and damasks in the French collection, to the highly-embellished designs of the Indian collection, incorporating gold thread and even beetle wings."

Materials produced for functional purposes, including tent cloths, are also displayed in sample books which can be accessed at Bradford College's Lister Building by appointment only.

Ms Crowther said: "Although the archive focuses on education, it really reflects what went on in the textile industry and we really value the work our students did.

"We now hope to expand the collection to include the work of students today and hope to build up a database to go online for people to search access from around the world."

An £8,000 donation from the proceeds of the World Wool Conference held in Bradford last year is set to give the archive - which has already received funding from the Arts Council of England - an extra boost.

Barry Whitaker, of Allertex Ltd, which is involved in running the conference, is to present the cheque at the official opening by the Chancellor of the University of Bradford, Baroness Lockwood.

Mr Whitaker, who is also chairman of the firm and the Bradford College Textile Advisory Group, said: "The Bradford Textile Archive is a tremendous asset, not just to Bradford but to the world of textiles.

"When we had the likes of Foster and Lister in Bradford producing world-standard textiles, it would be sad to see those samples lost."

To arrange a visit to the archive, telephone Ms Crowther on (01274) 433268.