Textiles, Apparel, and Fashion
Core concepts
Textiles content spans fiber, yarn, fabric construction, and finishes. Know natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, linen) and manufactured fibers (polyester, nylon, rayon, acetate) with their properties: absorbency, strength, elasticity, abrasion resistance, and care needs. Understand yarn types (staple versus filament, spun versus filament), fabric structures (woven-plain, twill, satin; knit-weft and warp; nonwoven), and finishes (mercerization, sanforization, durable press, flame retardancy). Apparel topics include pattern and fit, sizing systems, quality indicators (seam finishes, grain alignment, even stitching), and the fashion cycle (introduction, rise, peak, decline, obsolescence). Also know sustainability concepts: fiber sourcing, microplastic shedding, and textile recycling.
Traps
Questions confuse fiber with fabric-properties like wrinkle resistance belong to the fiber or finish, not automatically to the garment. Another trap is assuming "natural" means better performance; cotton absorbs but dries slowly. Watch for the fashion cycle described out of order, or a stem calling a knit "woven."
Worked example
A consumer wants a durable work shirt that resists abrasion and dries quickly. Rule of thumb: match fiber property to end use. Polyester offers strength and quick drying but low absorbency; cotton is absorbent and comfortable but weaker when wet. A blend is often the intended answer because it balances properties.
Rule of thumb
Trace the property back to its source-fiber, yarn, structure, or finish-before selecting the answer.