textiles

• Cost


  the amount of money you have to spend will influence your choice of clothing, e.g. if you are on a tight budget you may choose to avoid expensive designer brands.
• Fibres


  Tiny hair-like threads that are twisted into yarn before being knitted or woven into fabric
• Current fashion trends


  the types of clothing that are in fashion may influence your choices, e.g. you might choose skinny jeans over a wider leg or vice-versa, depending on what is on-trend.
• Classification of fibres


  • Natural fibres
  • Human-made fibres
• Peer pressure


  sometimes there is pressure, particularly on young people, to wear certain brands or styles of clothing, e.g. The North Face jackets
• Function


  the clothes you choose should suit their function, e.g. a winter coat should protect you from bad weather
• Natural fibres - Wool

  • Source: Sheep, lambs, alpacas, goats, angora rabbits
  • Properties: Warm, insulating, absorbent, shrinks easily, scorches easily, can be irritating
  • Uses: Clothing, household
• Ease of care


  whether clothing is washable or must be dry-cleaned may influence your choice, e.g. clothing that is worn next to the skin should be washable.
• Natural fibres - Wool care

  1. Dry clean

  2. Handwash in lukewarm water or machine wash on wool setting

  3. Do not wring

  4. Dry flat

  5. Do not tumble dry

  6. Iron using cool wool setting
• Ethical concerns


  you may choose certain types of clothes because you are concerned about animal rights and the rights of the people who make clothes, e.g. you may avoid clothing made using materials like fur, feathers or leather.
• Natural fibres - Silk

  • Source: Cocoons of silk worms
  • Properties: Soft, smooth, drapes well, delicate, expensive
  • Uses: Clothing, household
• Personal preference


  people choose clothes based on the colours and shapes they feel suit them, the occasion they need them for and the clothes they already own.
• Natural fibres - Silk care

  1. Do not expose to direct sunlight

  2. Handwash in warm water using delicate detergent

  3. Dry flat

  4. Never tumble dry

  5. Iron inside out on cool silk setting
• Ecological concerns


  you may choose certain types of clothes because you are concerned about the environment, e.g. natural fibres over synthetic ones (see pages 339–41).
• Natural fibres - Cotton


  • Source: Cotton plant
  • Properties: Strong, durable, dyes easily, absorbs moisture well, creases easily, may shrink
  • Uses: Clothing, household
• Natural fibres - Cotton care

  1. Wash white cottons at very hot temperatures, coloured cottons at 40°C or below

  2. Most can be tumble dried

  3. Iron on hot cotton setting before fully dry
• Fashion


  the latest styles of clothing, hairstyles, interior design, etc.
• Natural fibres - Linen

  • Source: Flax plants
  • Properties: Strong, durable, absorbs moisture well, creases easily
  • Uses: Clothing, household
• Fashion trends


  changes in what is considered fashionable.
• Natural fibres - Linen care

  1. Wash white linen at very high temperatures, coloured linen at 40°C

  2. Most can be tumble dried

  3. Iron on hot linen setting before fully dry
• Fashion cycle


  Fashion trends come into fashion, then go out of fashion, only to come back into fashion again.
• Human-made fibres care


  1. Hand or machine wash in warm water (50°C or below)

  2. Can be tumble dried on medium or cool setting

  3. Iron on cool synthetic setting
• Factors that influence fashion trends

  • The fashion industry

  Famous people

  Technology

  World events & the economy
• Care labels


  Instructions on how to care for clothing and textiles, using written instructions and/or symbols
• The fashion industry


  Like all other industries, the fashion industry is constantly trying to find new ways of making their goods desirable in order to increase sales.

  Twice a year, the world's top designer fashion brands, such as Armani, Prada and Ralph Lauren, show their new collections at fashion shows in London, Paris, New York and Milan. These collections set the fashion trends for the following season.
• Care labels - Washing

  1. Water temperature: cool, warm or hot

  2. Wash action: how fast the machine moves the clothes

  3. Spin length: full, short or slow wool cycle
• Haute couture


  The clothes modelled at these shows are called haute couture (high fashion). These clothes are original, handmade and very expensive.
• Guidelines for washing clothes

  1. Repair any damage

  2. Check care label

  3. Empty pockets

  4. Sort by colour

  5. Do not overload machine

  6. Choose suitable detergent and fabric conditioner

  7. Choose correct wash programme
• Prêt-à-porter


  The top designers also produce less expensive, machine-made clothes. These clothes, called prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) are still very expensive.
• Off-the-peg


  Clothing manufacturers around the world buy or copy these designs and mass produce clothes using cheaper fabrics. These clothes are called off the-peg. They are much cheaper and are available in high street shops, e.g. River Island and Topshop.
• Guidelines for removing stains

  1. Act quickly

  2. Do not rub stain in

  3. Use mild treatment first

  4. Try natural stain removers

  5. Test chemical stain removers on small area
• Famous people


  Famous people – such as actors, singers and sports stars – influence fashion trends in a number of ways:

  What they wear increases clothing sales of similar looking items, e.g. the clothes Meghan Markle is photographed in often sell out very quickly.

  Some top designers pay famous people to promote their clothes, e.g. Kendall Jenner promotes Cavalli.

  Some people originally famous for another reason develop their own design labels, e.g. Victoria Beckham and Pippa O'Connor.
• Commercial stain removers


  Contain chemicals to treat various stains, follow instructions and safety warnings
• World events and the economy

  World events can influence the shape and style of clothing, e.g. during the Second World War fabric was scarce so skirts became straighter and shorter (the pencil skirt).

  When the economy is strong and people have more money, many tend to buy clothes more frequently but might not be concerned about quality, as they do not keep the clothes for long. When the economy is weak and people have less money, they tend to buy fewer pieces and opt for good-quality clothes.

  During times of economic recession, anti-establishment trends emerge, e.g. punk in the 1970s and early 1980s.
• Detergents


  Help remove dirt and stains, available in powder, liquid, liquitab or tablet form
• Types of detergent


  • Biological
  • Non-biological
  • For delicates
  • Eco-friendly
• Fabric conditioners


  Soften clothes, reduce static, reduce creasing, add scent
• Technology


  Advances in technology have greatly influenced the way clothing is made and marketed.

  New manufacturing equipment produces clothing more quickly and cheaply, e.g. nowadays large clothing manufacturers use laser technology to cut out fabric.

  New fabrics and fabric finishes allow new types of clothing to be created, e.g. the invention of elastane (Lycra®) has had a huge influence on the sports fashion industry.

  Internet-based technologies are used to market clothing, e.g. through advertising, fashion blogs and social media sites such as Instagram.

  Online shopping means that consumers, no matter where they live, have access to the latest fashion trends.
• Advantages of tumble drying

  • Quick and convenient
  • Removes creases
  • Softens items
• Ethical: Is it morally right or wrong?