Analysing products

Analysing a textiles product involves asking the following three questions:

1. is it fit for purpose?
2. does it meet the needs of the target market?
3. how well is it designed and made?

Answering the three questions above will normally involve an evaluation of the following criteria [criteria: A set of benchmarks, or rules, on which something or someone can be evaluated. ]:

• the product's design specification [design specification: document containing details of a product's required characteristics, and all the processes, materials and other information needed to design the product ]. Does the product measure up to it?
• the product's target market. What are their needs?
• the product's performance - ie, how suitable it is for its end-use, and what its aftercare requirements are
• the quality of the fibres, fabrics and manufacture. For example, how adequate are the stitchings, fastenings and seam allowance [seam allowance: the amount of material between the edge of a fabric and the seam line. ]?
• the product's aesthetic [aesthetic: relating to shape, style, colour, pattern and other aspects of a product's visual appeal ] appeal or stylistic qualities
• the product's price. Does it give value for money?
• any safety or moral issues there might be. Does the product conform to safety regulations? What is its impact on the environment?

In order to analyse a textiles product you will often need to sketch the front and back views, work out and sketch the pattern pieces, and work out the order of assembly of the pattern pieces.