Textiles. Textile industry

Nowadays textiles is the term given to all fabrics, whether they are in one piece or made up into garments or other items.

Textiles have been used by humankind from the earliest times to fulfil many purposes.

At first animal coats and furs were used to provide warmth and shelter. These were used exactly as they were, apart from some shaping to make them serve their purpose more effectively, for example in order to fit the body more closely or to provide a more effective wind break.

Textile technology began when people found out that the coats of some animals (e.g. sheep) could be used without slaughtering the animal. A method of producing fibres was discovered!

Even from earliest times, some plants, as well as animal skins, were being used to produce fabrics. The fibrous quality of plants such as flax (linen) made it possible to produce thread which could then be spun.

Egyptian mummies which have been exhumed (dug up) from their burial ground are found wrapped in bindings of cotton and linen. The Egyptians were combing and spinning flax into threads of various weights and producing fabrics that ranged from coarse sackcloth to fine and transparent linen from about 2000 BC.

When early humans changed their way of life from being nomadic (moving from place to place) and started to live in settlements, land was cultivated and domestic spinning, weaving and sewing began. Although spinning and weaving were thought of as women’s work, in ancient Egypt there were fabrics mass-produced by working men, again examples of early textile technology. The fabric produced was for the pharaohs, priests and nobles to provide protection, various coverings and adornments.

White linen was the most popular cloth because it was light and cool in summer and also offered some warmth when the night air became cold. There is evidence that these people knew how to bleach, starch and pleat their garments.

Modern textile technology covers many different areas and manufacturing processes. However, to achieve success you do not only need to know about the processes and apply them; you must also understand the nature and quality of fibres, yarns and fabrics, and the various techniques used to make them into products.

Modern textile industry is a global industry with large companies employing many people and operating in many different countries around the world.

The processes involved in production and use of textiles vary. In the textile industry there are several distinct processes, each carried out by specialist groups of workers. These are:

- fibre production;

- yarn production (converting fibres into yarns);

- fabric production (converting yarn into fabric);

- dyeing and finishing of fabric;

- making products e.g. garments (sometimes called apparel in industry), interior furnishing (e.g. soft furnishing, curtains, cushions, wall-hangings etc.)

The study of textiles technology therefore includes:

- textile production (i.e. the first four processes above);

- making up garments / other items from textiles.

You should now understand that there are two different sectors of the industry and they form the basis for the study of textile technology. The people involved are either “textiles people” or “clothing (other items) people”. The scale to which people are involved in either sector of the industry varies greatly.

III Answer the questions

1. What does the term “textiles” refer to?

2. What materials provided warmth and shelter in ancient times?

3. When did textile technology begin?

4. What made possible the production of thread?

5. What cloth was the most popular in ancient times? Why?

6. What areas and manufacturing processes does modern textile technology cover?

7. What processes are involved in production and use of textiles?

8. What sectors of the textile industry are there?

IV Complete the sentences with the words from the text and translate them

1. ... from the earliest times to fulfil many purposes.

2. ... some plants, as well as animal skins... .

3. The Egyptians were ... producing fabrics.

4. When early humans changed their way of life... .

5. The fabric produced was for... .

6. ... is a global industry with large companies ... .

7. The people involved are... .

V Read the words from the Ex.1. Look through the text again and find out the sentences with them. Make up your own sentences with these words

VII Give definitions to the words: textile, fibre production, yarn production, fabric production, dyeing of fabric, textiles people, clothing people

VIII Translate the sentences into English

1. В стародавні часи люди використовували шкури тварин.

2. Головне призначення одягу людини − захист від несприятливих погодних умов.

3. Люди навчилися прясти нитку завдяки волокнистій структурі деяких рослин.

4. Люди почали прясти, ткати та вязати, коли вони стали осідлими.

5. Багато років тому люди любили використовувати льон для виробництва текстильних виробів.

6. Кваліфіковані спеціалісти у галузі текстильного виробництва повинні знати про походження та властивості волокон, пряжі та полотен.

7. Текстильне виробництво охоплює багато виробничих процесів.

8. Виробництво текстилю починається з обробки чи виготовлення волокон.

9. Різні волокна можуть бути перетворені в нитку або в пряжу.

10. Полотно виготовляється з пряжі або з нитки.

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I Read and remember the translation of words and word-combinations	\|	Reading and writing skills

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