It's woven from the silk ribbons that prior to 1865 were used to bundle loose cigars. (After 1865 a federal law required that cigars be boxed.) With boxes came labels, which compose a whole sector of collecting.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Boxes of mass trauma supplies, field dressings, medical sponges are being boxed up for storage, unneeded.

CNN: Melted boots, faded batteries: supply depot has it covered