Textiles, Clothing and Consumer Studies
This domain covers fibre science, fabric construction, garment care and the consumer framework around clothing purchase. Questions often ask you to select a fibre or fabric for a stated end use and justify the choice by properties.
Fibre classification
- Natural, vegetable (cellulose): cotton, linen, jute - absorbent, strong wet, flammable, crease easily.
- Natural, animal (protein): wool, silk - warm, elastic, damaged by alkali and hot water, attacked by moths.
- Manufactured, regenerated: viscose, modal, lyocell - soft, absorbent, weaker wet.
- Manufactured, synthetic: polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane - strong, quick-drying, thermoplastic, hydrophobic, prone to pilling and static.
From yarn to garment
Yarn (staple or filament, twist direction), fabric construction (woven plain, twill, satin; knitted; non-woven), then finishes such as mercerising, sanforising, flame-retardant or water-repellent treatments. Satin is a weave, silk is a fibre - do not merge the terms. Care symbols follow ISO 3758; fibre content labelling is required under EU Regulation 1007/2011.
Consumer studies
Sale of goods rights, guarantees, the 14-day distance-selling withdrawal right, misleading pricing, and sustainability issues: fast fashion, microplastic shedding from synthetics during washing, extended producer responsibility and second-hand markets.
Worked example
Choosing fabric for running leggings. Reasoning: polyester provides strength, low moisture absorbency and quick drying so sweat evaporates rather than weighing the garment down; 15–20% elastane gives stretch and recovery so the fabric returns to shape; cotton, though comfortable, absorbs moisture, becomes heavy and dries slowly, and 100% cotton lacks the required elasticity. The justified answer names the property, links it to the activity, and acknowledges the trade-off (odour retention, microplastic release).
Traps
- Assuming natural fibres are always the sustainable choice - cotton is water-intensive.
- Confusing weave names with fibre names.
- Misreading care symbols (a bar under the tub means mild treatment; an X means do not).
- Ignoring the fibre blend and quoting only one component.