I think that back in the olden ‘golden’ days, there were few options, it was either buy or make,
The well to do, could afford to buy, and by heaven they bought the very best, and it lasted long after they were dead and gone.
The less well to do, bought the best they could afford, and it lasted their lifetime.
The rest made what they could out of what they had, they made it the best they could, out of the best that they had. Some of which are still usable to this day, others less so.
My new (to me) canvas 4 man family tent is at least 25 years old (the couple who gave it to me, had it 25 years, they got it from our church when the church up-graded their tents to nylon) it’s been patched a few times, but is still water proof (the moot proved that) More than serviceable and great for what I need, It cost something like £25 when new, which was a lot of money. It’s been looked after, previous owners have taken the time to maintain it, that, I think, is the key.
Modern materials do not need that much looking after, no proofing, no hanging up to drip dry, no care or attention. However, the trade off is modern materials don’t seem to last, they fade and be come fragile when exposed to prolong periods of sunlight or bad weather. Canvas / cotton will rot if not looked after or if it is not used that often, but so long as you do look after it, it can out live you.