WHAT ARE TEXTILES?

Not all textiles are fabric, however, all fabric is a form of textile.

Textiles are flexible materials consisting of a network of artificial or natural fibers.  Textile yarn is produced by spinning raw fibers of polyester, flax, hemp, wool, cotton, or other materials to produce long strands.  Textiles are formed by knitting, knotting, crocheting, tatting, weaving, braiding or felting.

Textiles have so many uses that textiles are more often categorized by the industries that use them than by the materials that form them.  For example, geotextiles are a permeable fabric that filters, separates, protects, reinforces, or drains soil.  Geotextiles are often used to improve soil on building and development sites.  These textiles have various types of material like non-woven, warp-knitted, and open-mesh textiles.  Medical bandages and dressings are classified as healthcare textiles or medical textiles.  They have been used for hygiene and first-aid.  Textiles used in agriculture, the automotive industry and other specialized fields are distinct in their categorization.  The use of the textiles varies wildly even when they have similar components.

Every textile is made from textile fiber.  Examples of textile fibers include thread, yarn, rayon, chemical fiber short-hair silk, elastic silk, natural silk and metal wire.  Once the fibers are processed together via weaving, knitting, etc. they are used to create multitudes of manufactured goods and fabrics.  Textiles comprise knitted or woven materials used in any way.