textile science

Food, shelter, and clothing are the basic necessities for the survival of human civilization. Textiles play important role in making of clothing and making the shelters more comfortable and attractive. They are also used in the production or processing of many items used in day-to-day living, such as food and manufactured goods. An ideal starting place to gain an understanding for textiles is given by definitions of several basic terms.

1.      Fiber

-          A unit of matter characterized by flexibility, fineness and a high length to width ratio.

-          It is defined as thin, fine and hair like substance, natural or manufactured, with a high length to width ratio and with appropriate properties for being processed into a fabric.

2.      Yarn

-          An assemblage of fibers twisted or laid together so as to form a continuous strand that can be made into textile fabrics.

-          It is defined as a linear form of fibers, twisted as a continuous strand that can be made into a fabric.

3.      Fabric

-          A piece of material that have been twisted together to form strands that are suitable for garment construction.

-          A fabric is produced from a yarn by performing mechanical operations as interlacing or interloping or intermeshing process. At this stage the fabric is referred as a grey cloth.

4.      Dying

-          It is a coloration of textile substrates for the purpose of improving the aesthetic features. It is a chemical process of applying color to textile substrates like fiber, yarn, fabric or garment by using natural or synthetic dyes.

5.      Printing

-           It is a chemical process of applying design to the fabrics for further enhancement of aesthetic features by using various techniques.

6.      Filament

-          A fiber of indefinite length

7.      Staple fibers

-          Short fibers or fibers of discrete length

8.      Filament fibers

-          long fibers or fibers of indefinite length  

         Importance of studying textiles to a fashion Designer

·         Acts as a professional career

·         Helps designers to make a sensible choice of choosing fabrics that complement their design

·         Enables designers to make different type of fabrics under fabric construction methods

·         Designers acquire knowledge on how to care for different textile products

·         Designers are able to improve the aesthetic value of different fabrics