Textiles and Food--a Similar Evolution?

 Virginia Postrel has a new book on the history of textiles. I gave it to my wife but haven't yet read it myself.  Based on online interviews/discussions with her I expect it to be very good.  One theory I've developed from them is there's a general parallel between the evolution of the making and use of textiles and the evolution of the growing and eating of food.  There's a gradual shift from individual hand labor to mass production and marketing of textiles, just as there's a gradual shift from hand labor to mass production and marketing of food.