Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Design
Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Design
This domain tests fibre classification, fabric construction, clothing selection, drafting and the elements and principles of design. Expect matching questions on fibre properties and short notes on finishes.
Core rules and concepts
- Fibres: natural (cotton, silk, wool, jute) and man-made (rayon, polyester, nylon, acrylic). Cotton is staple, absorbent and creases; polyester is filament, strong and thermoplastic.
- Yarn: spinning; twist affects strength. Fabric: weaving (warp and weft), knitting (interlocking loops), non-woven (felting, bonding).
- Finishes: mercerization (cotton lustre), sanforization (shrinkage control), crease-resist, water-repellent, flame-retardant.
- Body measurements: bust, waist, hip, shoulder, sleeve length. Drafting uses a scale and seam allowance, usually 1 cm and 1.5–2 cm at the hem.
- Elements of design: line, colour, texture, form, space. Principles: balance, rhythm, proportion, emphasis, harmony.
Worked example
Select fabric for a summer school uniform in Bihar. Reasoning: high temperature and humidity require absorbency and breathability. Cotton or a cotton-polyester blend is suitable; pure polyester traps heat. Light colours reflect heat. For durability, a polyester-cotton blend with a sanforized finish reduces shrinkage.
Traps
Calling rayon a natural fibre; confusing warp (lengthwise) with weft (widthwise); forgetting seam allowance; describing a principle as an element.