Textile Production and Processing Overview

Textile Materials

• Textiles originate from the Latin verb "texere" meaning to weave.
• A textile is a general term for any manufactured material from fibers, filaments, or yarns, characterized by flexibility, fineness, and a high length-to-thickness ratio.
• Textiles are materials (fibers, filaments, yarns) that can be made into fabrics.

Textile Processing Flow Chart

• The process starts with raw materials (textile fibers).
• Yarn manufacturing (spinning mill) follows.
• Fabric manufacturing (weaving, knitting, braiding) comes next.
• Wet processing (dyeing, printing, finishing) occurs after the gray fabric stage.
• Finally, the finished fabric is used for garment manufacturing.

Textile Production and Apparel Manufacture

• Textile production involves fiber-to-yarn, yarn-to-fabric, and coloring/finishing processes.
• Management/control processes include textile inspection, evaluation, and production management.
• Apparel manufacture has operational processes like product design/development, material management, garment making, pressing/finishing/packaging; and management/control such as inspection/evaluation and production management.
• Distribution/sales processes include product delivery, wholesaling/retailing, sales forecasting, marketing/promotion, and related management issues.

Types of Textile Fabrics

• Woven: Fabrics created by interlacing yarns.
• Knitted: Fabrics created by interlocking loops of yarn.
• Braided: Fabrics formed by intertwining strands in a specific pattern.
• Nonwoven: Fabrics made from fibers held together by bonding, without weaving or knitting.

Textile and Textile Products

• Fiber: Natural or synthetic, the smallest component with a hair-like structure that can be separated from fabric.
  • Examples: absorbent(cotton, rayon), stretchy(spandex), warm(wool), strong(nylon, polyester).
• Yarn: A continuous strand of fibers; used to create fabric.
  • Examples: smooth (satin), soft (brushed denim).
• Everyday Textile Products: Apparel (clothing), interior textiles (upholstered furniture, carpets), and more.
• Smart Textiles: Interactive textiles that react to the environment; examples include delivering medication or monitoring body temperature.
• Technical or Industrial Textiles: Textiles for technical use in diverse applications. Examples include automotive uses (tire cords, seat upholstery), construction uses (tarpaulins, awnings), and more.

Textiles: Global Textile Complex

• The complex involves various stages, from raw materials to finished products.
  • Raw materials like natural/protein fibers, and those synthesized (chemicals)
  • Manufacturers and Processors of yarns and fabrics.
  • Product manufacturers (apparel, home furnishings).
  • Wholesalers and Retailers for consumer products.