Lesson 9

Textile as the Science of Fabric

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

• Use the terminology associated with textiles;

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to New Normal form of Learning Process. This module will help the learners to
strengthens their knowledge in Textile as the Science of Fabric and improve their skills and ideas in
terms of choosing the right textile to purchase. This also provide the students with knowledge and
skills in the selection of clothing materials appropriate for different occasions. It makes also to
displays the awareness of an individual in choosing the appropriate and lasting style. Provide the
student to know the importance of planning in choosing clothes for differing occasion.

ACTIVITY

Textile fabric is defined as two dimensional plane-like structure made of textile materials,
having reasonable strength, elongation, flexibility, etc., used for different applications,
particularly for apparels. From: Fundamentals and Advances in Knitting Technology.
What is the importance of textile science?
Textile science plays a major role in the development of a fabric. The process of developing a
fabric is quite complex as it has to go through a series of processes. As important draping and
embellishment are to fashion design, so is textile science that holds a prominent place in the
field.

Fashion Designing:
How Textile Science Matters
The history of fabrics can be traced back to the 18th century where India was known as the main
textile hub. Different types of fabrics were woven, embellished and dyed to enhance their
appearance. The textile industry in India is the second most employment-generating industry.
Indian fabrics are in high demand all over the world. The quest into the basics of Indian textiles
leads to an in-depth study of textile science.

Textile science plays a major role in the development of a fabric. The process of developing a
fabric is quite complex as it has to go through a series of processes. As important draping and
embellishment are to fashion design, so is textile science that holds a prominent place in the
field.

Understanding a fabric’s physical, chemical and biological properties summarises the gist of
knowledge acquired and used in textile science. As every fabric is different from the other in
its properties, a thorough fabric analysis is important. This understanding that is highly
important in fashion designing helps designers to make a sensible choice of choosing fabrics
that complement their design.

Before a fabric is chosen for a particular garment, its properties are tested to check its strength,
durability and suitability. For example, a fabric such as satin is mostly chosen to
design evening gowns because it is soft, lustrous and has a good fall. On the other hand, a
fabric like cotton is more suitable for casual clothing as the fabric gives a highly comfortable
feel.

Fashion designers are able to judge the fabric with its look and feel. Analyzing a fabric is not
just a natural knack but comes with experience and definitely after pursuing a
professional fashion designing course. These designers actually go down to the anatomy of a
fabric as it helps them in the designing process. They are even able to visualize the look of the
garment before it is finally ready.

In fact, in fashion designing institutes, textile science as a subject is an important part of the
curriculum. Textile science as a subject of study includes topics like dyeing, printing and
weaving. Students are also taught about each fabric and its usage. An in-depth study gives a
clear understanding of each fabric.

Textile science has also led to the innovation of new fabrics. Few of them are as follows:

Paper Cloth

This is latest to the addition of sustainable fabrics. Paper cloth is made from non-woven
cellulose. This is produced with Swedish paper to make fashionable clothing. Here, recycled
paper is used to make innovative clothing.

Orange Fibre
The orange fibre is recovered from orange waste specifically developed for sustainable fashion.
In this process, no natural resources are exploited. The orange is squeezed and with the
remaining skin the cellulose is converted into yarns and then into fabric.

Pinatex

Pinatex is another innovative fibre used in fashion. This fibre is extracted from pineapple
leaves. It is biodegradable, lightweight, strong, and very easy to sew. Many fashion designers
use this as an alternative to leather.

These days, many institutes have included sustainable fashion as part of the curriculum.
In fashion design classes, students learn about the importance of sustainable fashion clothing
and how best it can be implemented.
MycoTEX

MycoTEX is a fabric developed from mushroom mycelium. A certain vegetative part of the mushroom consists
of multiple fine white filaments. These filaments are converted into yarns to make fabrics.

The MycoTEX fabric is grown! The fabric can be trimmed into different patterns and can be embellished. This
fibre requires less water and no chemicals at all.

Eucalyptus Yarn

A knitting company launched a new Tina Tape Yarn developed from the Eucalyptus trees. The yarn is extracted
after the fibre is harvested and pulped. The fabric made from the yarn is called Tencel (or Lyocell) which is
regenerated from wood cellulose. The yarn is wrinkle-resistant, soft, and eco-friendly.

Textile science is highly applicable in fashion and is involved in the making of every textile product. It is for
this very reason that every fashion design student must understand the basics of fabric development that owes a
lot to textile science.