What are textiles?

Textiles in various forms have been used for over the last 100 years, but as technology has progressed so has the way textiles are made. Textiles are made from fibres which then depending on the chosen result are put together using means of spun into yarn, woven or knitted.

Technically speaking fabric is a flexible two dimensional material; however this is not always the case. All fabrics have different attributes that vary, and there is rarely a fabric with similar qualities. The way a fabric is constructed depends upon the desired texture and appearance. Clothing is perhaps the most popular of textiles which serves practical and less practical functions; the less practical function is where fashion comes into its own.

Fashion has a strong influence over what people wear and due to the access of cheaper durable fabrics, it’s now a faster production process to the high street. It has become so vast and such a competitive industry that the process of textiles has ever increased in importance.

Textiles are also used in other aspects of life such as; industrial components (rope/ nets), medical use (bandages/dressings), and all the way to agriculture (netting and twine).

In the last 40 years new technology developments mean that textiles are changing and constantly developing; synthetic fibre is an example of this in which a recent textiles have been developed and as a result is more durable to produce cheaply.

By Abigail Stephenson

Photographs provided by fashion Capital.
 

For other articles in the learning about textiles technology, click below:

Part one: what are textiles?
Part two: The inspiration behind the ideas of design
Part three: drawing and modelling
Part four: planning
Part five: influences on design
Part six: fibres
Part seven: construction
Part eight: properties of fabrics
Part nine: care of fabrics
Part ten: components
Part eleven: disassembly
Part twelve: application of colour
Part thirteen: measuring and marketing
Part fourteen: assembly
Part fifteen: industrial production techniques
Part sixteen: systems in production
Part seventeen: aesthetics and ergonomics
Part eighteen: evaluation and quality
Part nineteen: marketing