What is Fabric?
A fabric is a material made through weaving, knitting, spreading, felting, stitching, crocheting or bonding that may be used in the production of further products.
It is made from fibres from all different types of sources. There are natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo, and fibers from animal sources such as wool or silk. There are an incredible number of synthetic fibers including, but definitely not limited to, polyester, acrylic, spandex and nylon. In the photo above you can see three very dissimilar fabrics made from synthetic fibers. There are even fabrics made from gold, recycled plastic bottles (fleece) or other peculiar sources. Fabrics is created when putting together these fibers in some way.
Most fabric is woven or knit, but there are also other methods such as felting, bonding or braiding fibers. For each type of fiber and manufacturing method there can be many different types of fabric. For example batiste, denim, flannel, terry, voile and poplin can all be made from woven cotton, but are totally different from one another.
What is spandex Fabric?
Spandex, Lycra or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is a polyether-polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont’s Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro, Virginia.
The elasticity and strength (stretching up to five times its length), of spandex has been incorporated into a wide range of garments, especially in skin-tight garments. A benefit of spandex is its significant strength and elasticity and its ability to return to the original shape after stretching and faster drying than ordinary fabrics. For clothing, spandex is usually mixed with cotton or polyester, and accounts for a small percentage of the final fabric, which therefore retains most of the look and feel of the other fibers.
What is Fashion?
Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression at a particular time and place and in a specific context, especially in clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body proportions.
what is fashion design?
Fashion design is the art of applying design, aesthetics and natural beauty to clothing and its accessories. It is influenced by cultural and social attitudes, and has varied over time and place.
What is textile design?
Textile geometry is the creative and technical process by which thread or yarn fibers are woven together or interlaced to form a flexible, functional, and decorative cloth or fabric which is subsequently printed upon or otherwise adorned. Textile design is further broken down into three major disciplines, printed textile design, woven textile design, and mixed media textile design, each of which utilize different methods to produce a surface ornamented fabric for variable uses and markets. Textile Design as a practice has evolved to become an industry integral to other disciplines such as fashion, interior design, and fine arts.