Fundamentals of Apparel and Textile Science
What the exam tests
This domain checks how well you connect fibre type, yarn structure, fabric construction and performance. Questions often ask you to choose a material for a given garment and justify it with properties, not brand names.
Core rules and concepts
- Fibres are natural (cotton, linen, wool, silk), regenerated (viscose, modal) or synthetic (polyester, nylon, acrylic). Fibre properties carry into the fabric but are modified by yarn and structure.
- Yarn may be staple or filament; twist adds strength but reduces softness. Count systems include Ne (cotton count) and tex (grams per 1000 m).
- Woven fabric has warp and weft, selvedge and grain; knit fabric has wales and courses and stretches more; nonwoven is bonded fibre.
- Judge fabrics by absorbency, dry and wet strength, elasticity, resiliency, shrinkage, pilling, flammability and GSM (g/m²). GSM is areal mass, not thread count.
Worked example
A school shirt is specified as 65% polyester/35% cotton. Explain the choice. Polyester contributes strength, wrinkle recovery and quick drying; cotton contributes absorbency and comfort next to skin. The blend reduces the shrinkage and ironing burden of pure cotton, but it is less absorbent than 100% cotton and polyester can pill and retain oily stains. For a uniform worn daily and washed often, the blend is a reasonable compromise; for a summer garment for sensitive skin, a cotton-rich or viscose blend may be better. The reasoning must link fibre to end use.
Traps that cost marks
Do not say natural fibres are always stronger or better; viscose loses strength when wet. Do not confuse GSM with yarn count. Do not assume all synthetics are non-breathable; fabric structure and finishes matter. Do not ignore wet strength, shrinkage or care.