Fabric & Textiles

• Three main categories of Textile fibres

  • Natural Fibres
  • Synthetic Fibres
  • Mixed/blended Fibres
• Natural Fibres


  Fibres that comes from natural sources, they're easily renewable & biodegradable

  • cellulose from plants & protein from animals
  • E.g Cotton, Silk, wool, linen
• Synthetic Fibres


  Made from chemicals like coal & oil, refined into polymers

  • It's strong & cheap
  • non-renewable & do not degrade easily
  • E.g Nylon, Polyester, acrylic
• Mixed/Blended Fibres

  Made from both natural & synthetic fibres

  • has mixed & improved properties like the quality, aesthetic, function or cost, making it sustainable & versatile
  • they're spun together when the yarn is made

  E.g Lyocell, Modal, polycotton, polywool
• Loom


  A piece of equipment on which thread or yarn is woven into cloth.
• Warp


  Warp the threads that go along the length of a piece of cloth or a loom.
• Weft


  The threads that go across the length of a piece of cloth or a loom.
• Woven fabrics use a warp and weft yarn on a loom to interlock fibres.
• Knitted textiles are made from rows of interlocking loops. They can be made from a variety of fibres, not just wool.
• Non-woven fabrics are webs of fibres that are glued, compressed or melted together.
• Pattern


  A collection of shape that are attached to the surface of the material to aid shaping it.
• Pattern are used to help

  • Pre-plan a design
  • Repeat the same outcome each time
  • Accuracy
• synthetic fibres:


  • polyester
  • nylon (polyamide)
  • elastane
  • acrylic

  
• polyester


  • breathable
  • strong & versatile
  • durable
  • it holds colour
  • washes well
  • can be engineered to be stain, water or crease resistant
  • used for clothing, tablecloths

  
• Nylon (polyamide)


  • shiny
  • water resistant
  • hardwearing
  • used for parachutes, clothing & sports equipment

  
• elastane


  • hardwearing
  • quick drying
  • not biodegradable
  • used in sportswear & swimsuits

  
• acrylic


  • easy to wash
  • retains it shape
  • good resistance to chemicals, insects & sunlight
  • colour remains well
  • used in carpets, clothing & outdoor furniture

  
• Synthetic fabric is suitable for a suitcase bc:

  • The fabric is durable, the material will not tear easily
  • The case can be easily wiped down if it gets dirty
  • The material is stain-resistant & lightweight so easy to lift & carry
  • Waterproof so clothes will stay dry
• The zips & wheels are standard components

  • benefits to the manufacturer of using standard components:

  It makes manufacture faster, as the parts are bought in

  • It helps to ensure quality & consistency with the manufacture with less chance of human error
  • It makes the cost of the product lower as there are less steps to manufacturing
  • Standard components can be cheap when bought in bulk so the final product is cheaper to make
  • Readily available can be bought from different suppliers
  • Can be used in many different products due to interchangeability