Clothing and Textile

Learning Objective
At the end of this topic, the students will be able to
• Define term textile and know brief history
• Classify different types of fibers and yarns
• Know what textile products to select for specific
uses in their day to day life
• Identify the fabric construction and finishes given to
each type of clothing textile
• Care of textile products
Brief History
• Textiles date back to the Stone Age around 100,000
years ago whereas cotton use dates back to 5,000
B.C.

• Silk Road in ancient world = a way to sell textiles

• Although simple clothing was worn at first, dyeing

methods developed and clothing started to become
more elaborate
• Ancient Egypt = flax
• Ancient India = cotton
• Ancient China = silk
• Ancient Japan = hemp, method of weaving,
cloth made from bark fibers
Flax
Cotton
Silk
What is a Textile?
• A textile is a flexible material comprised of a
network of natural or artificial fibers often
referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is
produced by spinning raw wool fibers, linen,
cotton, or other material on a spinning wheel
to produce long strands known as yarn.[1]
Textiles are formed by weaving, knitting,
crocheting, knotting, or pressing
Classification and identification of textile fibers
Textile is classified :
1. Based on source
2. Based on lenght
3. Based on the content
Textile can be identified:
1. By Feel
2. By Lenght
3. By Lustre
4. By Texture
Two types of Fiber based on Source
1. Natural fibers – they are obtained from nature
a. vegetable fibers ( cellulose)
e.g. Abaca, Sisal, Buri
b. animal fibers (protein)
e.g. Wool
c. mineral fibers
e.g. Asbestos
Comparison between Animal and Vegetable Fibers
Vegetable Fiber Animal Fiber
Vegetable fibers are strong Animal fibers are soft to feel
with a crisp feel
Good heat Poor heat
Non resilient and crease
Stronger wet when dry
easily
Stronger when wet than dry Absorbent
Moth proof Attacked by moths
Affected by mildew in damp
Not affected by mildew easily
conditions
Can be bleached Damaged by sunlight& alkalis
Not harmed by alkalis Affected by chlorine bleach
Affected by acids
A. Vegetable Fiber

• Vegetable fibers are

obtained from plant
cells
 Category Description
Fibers collected from seeds or seed cases. e.g.
Seed fiber
cotton and kapok
Leaf fiber Fibers collected from leaves. e.g., sansevieria,
fique, sisal, banana and agave.
Fibers are collected from the skin or bast
surrounding the stem of their respective plant.
These fibers have higher tensile strength than
Bast fiber other fibers. Therefore, these fibers are used
for durable yarn, fabric, packaging, and paper.
Some examples are flax, jute, kenaf, industrial
hemp, ramie, rattan, and vine fibers.
Skin Fiber
Fibers are collected from the fruit of the plant,
Fruit fiber e.g. coconut (coir) fiber.

Fibers are actually the stalks of the plant. E.g.

straws of wheat, rice, barley, and other crops
Stalk fiber including bamboo and grass. Tree wood is also
such a fiber.
1. Cotton
• This fibre is obtained
from the seeds of
cotton plant, which
grows 1-2 meters tall .
Advantages Limitations
Can be dyed easily Cotton creases easily
Tends to shrink when
Good conductor of heat
washed
Durable since fibre is strong Sheds lint
Easily dry- cleaned. Prone to mildew attacks
Good absorbency power Flammable
Textured effects are easily
Damaged by acids
available.
Highly versatile Takes longer time to dry
Processed into wide range of When exposed to sunlight it
fabrics turns yellow
2. Linen
• This fiber is obtained
from the stem of the flax
plant .This is an annual
plant growing maximum
about 40 inches.
Advantages Limitations
More durable than cotton Creases & shrinks easily
Withstands constant washing Prone to mildew attacks
Soil is easily removed from It does not have good
this affinity for dyes
Easy to laundry Takes long time to dry
Stronger when in wet
Linen is flammable
condition
Not affected by sunlight It is expensive
Good conductor of heat
Can withstand high ironing
temperatures
3. Jute
• Obtained from stems of
jute plant

Advantages Limitations
Inexpensive & can be blended
weak & non-durable
with other fibres
It resists water, fire, mildew
difficult to bleach
and rot
It dyes easily difficult to laundry
4. Ramie - obtained from stems of plant, it is a woody
fibre , it is also known as china grass & is used for
making rope, twine, sacking & nets.
5. Hemp - obtained from stems of plant & is used for
manufacturing carpets & rags, its used to to make
sacks & canvas
6. Sisal - obtained from the leaves of a plant, resembles
cactus .it is used to make twine , rope, sacking&
nets
7. Kapok - obtained from seeds of the cotton tree& are
smooth & light, it is used for filling of cushions.
8. Coir and Pina - obtained from coconut husk and
leaves of pineapple plants, used in making rope &
mats, also used for stuffing upholstered furniture's
and for making bags
B. Animal Fiber
• Animal fibers generally
comprise proteins such as
collagen, keratin and
fibroin; examples include
silk, sinew, wool, catgut,
angora, mohair and
alpaca.
 Category Description
Fiber or wool taken from
animals or hairy mammals.
Animal hair (wool or hairs) e.g. sheep's wool, goat hair
(cashmere, mohair), alpaca
hair, horse hair, etc.
Fiber secreted by glands
(often located near the
Silk fiber
mouth) of insects during the
preparation of cocoons.
Fibers from birds, e.g.
Avian fiber
feathers and feather fiber.
1. Wool
• Obtained from fleece of
sheep
• Wool is graded under 4
classes: fine, medium,
long & carpet wools
Advantages Limitations
Comfortable for wear Takes long time to dry
Dyes easily Weak fibers
Does not soil easily Stretches easily
Can be laundered easily Good quality is expensive
Flameproof damaged by moth
May produce allergic
Shrink proof
reaction to skin
Moth resistant
2. Silk
• The finest quality of raw silk
is obtained from the cocoon
of the bombyx mori, a type f
silkworm
Advantages Limitations
Silk is weakened by
Soft feel & lustre
sunlight
Becomes weaker when
Elegant to look at
wet
Weakened at high
Strongest natural fibre
temperatures
Bad conductor of heat Sensitive to acid
White silk can be
Very costly
bleached
C. Mineral Fiber
• Asbestos is a natural mineral fibre
• It is obtained from rocks
• It is acid proof , rust proof & flame proof
• Can withstand extreme temperatures
• It is used for making fire fighting suits
2. Manmade fibers –they are obtained in
various way
a. re-generated
e.g art silk
b. semi-synthetic
e.g Acetate/ Diacetate/ Lyocell/
Modal/ Rayon/ Triacetate
c. synthetic
 Mineral Glass
e.g Carbon/ Tenax/ Basalt/ Metallic
 Polymer
e.g Nylon/ Polyester/ Spandex