Textiles and Clothing
Textiles and Clothing tests fibres, yarns, fabric construction, properties, clothing selection and care. You need to connect fibre properties to comfort, durability and maintenance.
Core concepts
- Natural fibres: cotton, jute, silk, wool. Man-made: rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic.
- Cotton absorbs moisture and is comfortable in heat but wrinkles; polyester is strong and quick-drying but retains odour and melts near heat; wool insulates but shrinks; silk is lustrous but needs gentle care.
- Yarn: staple fibres are short and twisted; filament yarns are long. More twist adds strength; too much twist reduces softness.
- Fabric construction: weaving uses warp and weft; knitting uses interlocking loops and stretches; non-woven fabrics are bonded fibres.
- Clothing selection: climate, occasion, age, comfort, fit, durability, budget, ease of care and cultural suitability.
- Care: read care labels; wash dark colours separately; dry in shade; iron at the correct temperature; treat stains promptly.
Worked example
A fabric burns quickly, smells like burning paper and leaves grey ash. Reasoning: this matches cotton, a plant fibre. A polyester sample would melt, give black smoke and leave a hard bead. The test is only a clue; fibre blends and finishes can confuse it, so confirm with a label or a small inconspicuous sample.
Traps
Assuming natural fibres are always better; ignoring blend properties; washing wool in hot water; using chlorine bleach on coloured or protein fibres; selecting clothes only by fashion and not by climate or care.