Dictionary Definition
fabric
Noun
1 artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting
or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the
curtains was light and semitraqnsparent"; "woven cloth originated
in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material
for a dress" [syn: cloth,
material, textile]
2 the underlying structure; "restoring the
framework of the bombed building"; "it is part of the fabric of
society" [syn: framework]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- /ˈfæb.rɪk/, /"f
Extensive Definition
A textile is a flexible
material comprised of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread
or yarn. Yarn is produced
by spinning
raw wool fibres, linen, cotton, or other material on a
spinning
wheel to produce long strands known as yarn. Textiles are formed by
weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or
pressing fibres together (felt).
Textile terminology
The words fabric and cloth are
commonly used in textile assembly trades (such as tailoring and dressmaking) as synonyms for
textile. However, there are subtle differences in these terms.
Textile refers to any material made of interlacing fibres. Fabric
refers to any material made through weaving, knitting, crocheting,
or bonding. Cloth refers to a finished piece of fabric that can be
used for a purpose such as covering a bed.
History
The production of textiles is an important craft, whose speed and scale of production has been altered almost beyond recognition by industrialization and the introduction of modern manufacturing techniques. However, for the main types of textiles, plain weave, twill or satin weave, there is little difference between the ancient and modern methods.Incan Indians have been
crafting quipus (or
khipus) made of fibres either from a protein, such as spun and
plied thread like wool or hair from camelids such as alpacas,
llamas and camels or from a cellulose like cotton for thousands of
years. Khipus are a series of knots along pieces of string. They
have been believed to only have acted as a form of accounting,
although new evidence conducted by Harvard professor,
Gary
Urton, indicates there may be more to the khipu than just
numbers. Preservation of khipus found in museum and archive
collections follow general textile
preservation principles and practice.
Uses
Textiles have an assortment of uses, the most common of which are for clothing and containers such as bags and baskets. In the household, they are used in carpeting, upholstered furnishings, window shades, towels, covering for tables, beds, and other flat surfaces, and in art. In the workplace, they are used in industrial and scientific processes such as filtering. Miscellaneous uses include flags, backpacks, tents, nets, cleaning devices, such as handkerchiefs; transportation devices such as balloons, kites, sails, and parachutes; strengthening in composite materials such as fibre glass and industrial geotextiles, and smaller cloths are used in washing by "soaping up" the cloth and washing with it rather than using just soap.Textiles used for industrial
purposes, and chosen for characteristics other than their
appearance, are commonly referred to as technical
textiles. Technical textiles include textile structures for
automotive applications, medical textiles (e.g. implants),
geotextiles (reinforcement of embankments), agrotextiles (textiles
for crop protection), protective clothing (e.g. against heat and
radiation for fire fighter clothing, against molten metals for
welders, stab protection, and bullet proof vests. In all these
applications stringent performance requirements must be met. Woven
of threads coated with zinc oxide
nanowires, laboratory
fabric has been shown capable of "self-powering nanosystems" using
vibrations created by everyday actions like wind or body
movements.
Fashion and textile designs
Fashion designers commonly
rely on textile designs to set their fashion collections apart from
others. Marisol
Deluna, Nicole
Miller, Lilly
Pulitzer, the late Gianni
Versace and Emilio Pucci
can be easily recognized by their signature print driven
designs.
Sources and types
Textiles can be made from many materials. These materials come from four main sources: animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic. In the past, all textiles were made from natural fibres, including plant, animal, and mineral sources. In the 20th century, these were supplemented by artificial fibres made from petroleum.Textiles are made in various
strengths and degrees of durability, from the finest
gossamer to the sturdiest canvas. The relative thickness of
fibres in cloth is measured in deniers.
Microfibre
refers to fibres made of strands thinner than one
denier.
Wool refers to the
hair of the domestic goat
or sheep, which is
distinguished from other types of animal hair in that the
individual strands are coated with scales and tightly crimped, and
the wool as a whole is coated with an oil known as lanolin, which is waterproof and
dirtproof. Woollen refers to a
bulkier yarn produced from carded, non-parallel fibre, while
worsted refers to a
finer yarn which is spun from longer fibres which have been combed
to be parallel. Wool is commonly used for warm clothing. Cashmere,
the hair of the Indian cashmere
goat, and mohair, the
hair of the North African angora goat,
are types of wool known for their softness.
Other animal textiles which
are made from hair or fur are alpaca wool,
vicuña
wool, llama
wool, and camel hair, generally
used in the production of coats, jackets, ponchos, blankets, and other warm
coverings. Angora refers to the
long, thick, soft hair of the angora
rabbit.
Wadmal is a coarse cloth made
of wool, produced in Scandinavia, mostly 1000~1500CE.
Silk is an animal
textile made from the fibres of the cocoon of the
Chinese silkworm. This
is spun into a smooth, shiny fabric prized for its sleek
texture.
Plant textiles
Grass, rush, hemp, and sisal are all used in making rope. In the first two, the entire plant is used for this purpose, while in the last two, only fibres from the plant are utilized. Coir (coconut fibre) is used in making twine, and also in floormats, doormats, brushes, mattresses, floor tiles, and sacking. Straw and bamboo are both used to make hats. Straw, a dried form of grass, is also used for stuffing, as is kapok.Cotton, flax, jute, hemp and modal are
all used in clothing. Piña (pineapple fibre) and ramie are also fibres used in
clothing, generally with a blend of other fabrics such as
cotton.
Seaweed is used in
the production of textiles. A water-soluble fibre known as alginate is
produced and is used as a holding fibre; when the cloth is
finished, the alginate is dissolved, leaving an open
area
Tencel is a man-made fabric
derived from wood pulp. It is often described as a man-made silk
equivalent and is a tough fabric which is often blended with other
fabrics - cotton for example.
Mineral textiles
Asbestos and basalt fibre are used for vinyl tiles, sheeting, and adhesives, "transite" panels and siding, acoustical ceilings, stage curtains, and fire blankets.Glass Fibre
is used in the production of spacesuits, ironing board and
mattress covers, ropes and cables, reinforcement fibre for composite
materials, insect netting, flame-retardant and protective
fabric, soundproof, fireproof, and insulating fibres.
Metal fibre, metal foil, and
metal wire have a variety of uses, including the production of
cloth-of-gold
and jewelry. Hardware
cloth is a coarse weave of steel wire, used in
construction.
Synthetic textiles
All synthetic textiles are used primarily in the production of clothing.Polyester fibre
is used in all types of clothing, either alone or blended with
fibres such as cotton.
Acrylic is
a fibre used to imitate wools, including cashmere, and is often
used in replacement of them.
Nylon is a fibre used
to imitate silk; it is used in the production of pantyhose. Thicker nylon
fibres are used in rope and
outdoor clothing.
Spandex (trade name
Lycra) is a polyurethane fibre that
stretches easily and can be made tight-fitting without impeding
movement. It is used to make activewear, bras, and swimsuits.
Olefin fibre
is a fibre used in activewear, linings, and warm clothing. Olefins
are hydrophobic, allowing them to dry quickly. A sintered felt of olefin fibres is sold under
the trade name Tyvek.
Ingeo is a polylactide fibre blended
with other fibres such as cotton and used in clothing. It is more
hydrophilic than most other synthetics, allowing it to wick away
perspiration.
Lurex is a
metallic fibre used in clothing embellishment.
Production methods
Weaving is a textile production method which involves interlacing a set of longer threads (called the warp) with a set of crossing threads (called the weft). This is done on a frame or machine known as a loom, of which there are a number of types. Some weaving is still done by hand, but the vast majority is mechanised.Knitting and
crocheting involve
interlacing loops of yarn,
which are formed either on a knitting
needle or on a crochet
hook, together in a line. The two processes are different in
that knitting has several active loops at one time, on the knitting
needle waiting to interlock with another loop, while crocheting
never has more than one active loop on the needle.
Braiding or plaiting involves twisting threads
together into cloth. Knotting involves tying threads together and
is used in making macrame.
Lace is made by
interlocking threads together independently, using a backing and
any of the methods described above, to create a fine fabric with
open holes in the work. Lace can be made by either hand or
machine.
Carpets, rugs, velvet, velour, and velveteen, are made by
interlacing a secondary yarn through woven cloth, creating a tufted
layer known as a nap or
pile.
Felting involves
pressing a mat of fibres together, and working them together until
they become tangled. A liquid, such as soapy water, is usually
added to lubricate the fibres, and to open up the microscopic
scales on strands of wool.
Treatments
References
- Good, Irene. 2006. "Textiles as a Medium of Exchange in Third Millennium B.C.E. Western Asia." In: Contact and Exchange in the Ancient World. Edited by Victor H. Mair. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu. Pages 191-214. ISBN 978-0824828844
- Fisher, Nora (Curator Emirta, Textiles & Costumes), Museum of International Folk Art. "Rio Grande Textiles." Introduction by Teresa Archuleta-Sagel. 196 pages with 125 black and white as well as color plates, Museum of New Mexico Press, Paperbound.
- David H. Abrahams, "Textile chemistry", McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science -- available in AccessScience@McGraw-Hill, [http://www.accessscience.com, DOI 10.1036/1097-8542.687500], last modified: February 21, 2007.] (Subscription access)
External links
- Textile Information and Advice Textile News.
- Global Textile and Clothing Trade Textile and Clothing Information and Reporting.
- The Museum of International Folk Art
- Weaving document archive
- [http://www.textile.fr:81/site/home_en.asp union of textile industries]
- Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory at Cornell University
- Bolivian indigenous textiles
- Compact informations about materials German textile site.
- Textile Technology - Textile Machinery, News and Directory
- Tex.in - Textile & Apparel Directory & WWW Database
fabric in Bulgarian:
Текстил
fabric in Catalan:
Tèxtil
fabric in Czech:
Textil
fabric in Danish:
Tekstil
fabric in German:
Textilie
fabric in Spanish:
Textil
fabric in Persian:
پارچه
fabric in French:
Textile
fabric in Galician:
Téxtil
fabric in Indonesian:
Tekstil
fabric in Italian: Tessuto
(manufatto)
fabric in Hebrew:
טקסטיל
fabric in Lithuanian:
Tekstilė
fabric in Dutch:
Textiel
fabric in Japanese:
織物
fabric in Norwegian:
Tekstilvev
fabric in Polish:
Tkanina
fabric in Portuguese:
Têxtil
fabric in Quechua:
P'acha
fabric in Russian:
Текстиль
fabric in Simple English:
Textile
fabric in Serbian:
Tekstil
fabric in Finnish:
Tekstiili
fabric in Swedish:
Textil
fabric in Thai:
ผ้า
fabric in Vietnamese:
Vải
fabric in Turkish:
Tekstil
fabric in Turkmen:
Tekstil
fabric in Contenese:
布
fabric in Chinese:
紡織品
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Aralac, Avisco, Axminster, Celanese, Dacron, Dymaxion house, Dynel, Georgette, Harris Tweed,
Lastex, Leatherette, Orlon, Qiana, Revolite, Terylene, Ultrasuede, Velon, Vicara, White House, acetate, acetate rayon, adobe
house, alpaca, anatomy, architectonics, architecture, arrangement, arras, astrakhan, atoms, baize, batik, blanketing, braiding, broadcloth, broadloom, brocade, build, building, bunting, cadre, calico, cambric, canvas, carpeting, casa, case, casement, cashmere, casing, castor, chassis, cheesecloth, chiffon, chinchilla, chintz, cliff dwelling, cloth, coating, composition, configuration, conformation, constitution, construct, construction, consulate, cord, corduroy, core, cotton, country house, country
seat, crash, creation, crepe, crepe de chine, cretonne, crinoline, dacha, damask, deanery, denim, distillate, distillation, doeskin, doorframe, drapery, drill, drilling, drugget, duck, duffel, dwelling house, edifice, elixir, embassy, enlacement, entwinement, entwining, erection, essence, establishment, etoffe, fabrication, farm, farmhouse, fashion, fashioning, felt, fiber, flannel, flannelette, fleece, forging, form, format, formation, foulard, foundation, frame, framework, framing, frieze, fustian, gauze, getup, gingham, gist, goods, gossamer, grenadine, grogram, grosgrain, gunny, haircloth, hall, heart, herringbone, hessian, homespun, hop sacking, horsehair, house, houseboat, huck, huckaback, interknitting, interlacement, interlacery, interlacing, intertexture, interthreading, intertieing, intertwinement, intertwining, intertwisting, interweavement, interweaving, jersey, kernel, knitting, lace, lacing, lake dwelling, lame, lattice, latticework, lawn, linen, linoleum, linsey-woolsey,
lisle, list, living machine, loden, lodge, longcloth, luster, mackinaw, mackintosh, madras, make, makeup, making, maline, manor house, manse, manta, mantua, manufacture, marquisette, marrow, mat, material, matter, matting, meat, medium, melton, messaline, mohair, moire, mold, molding, moleskin, mousseline de soie,
murrey, muslin, nainsook, nankeen, napery, near-silk, net, netting, nub, nylon, oil silk, oilcloth, organdy, organic structure,
organism, organization, organza, packaged house,
paisley, panne, panne velvet, parsonage, pattern, patterning, penthouse, pepper-and-salt,
percale, physique, picture frame,
pile, pique, pith, plaid, plaiting, plan, plush, polyester, pongee, poplin, prefab, prefabricated house,
prefabrication,
presidential palace, print, production, pyramid, quilting, quintessence, radium, rag, ranch house, rayon, rayon casheen, rectory, rep, roof, rugging, russet, sackcloth, sacking, sailcloth, sap, sarcenet, sash, sateen, satin, say, seersucker, serge, setup, shalloon, shantung, shape, shaping, sharkskin, sheers, sheeting, shell, shoddy, shot silk, silk, skeleton, skyscraper, sod house,
soul, spirit, split-level, spun rayon,
stamin, stammel, stockinette, structure, structuring, stuff, substance, suede, sum and substance, superstructure, swansdown, tabaret, tabby, taffeta, taffety, tangible, tapestry, tarpaulin, tartan, tectonics, terry cloth,
textile, textile fabric,
texture, tick, ticking, tissu, tissue, tower, town house, tricotine, tulle, tussah, tussore, tweed, twill, twining, twisting, veiling, velours, velure, velvet, velveteen, vicarage, voile, warp and woof, warpage, wash-and-wear fabric,
watered fabric, weave,
weaving, web, webbing, weft, weftage, window case, window
frame, woof, wool, worsted, wreathing