Choosing materials

It is important to choose materials that are fit for their purpose. Choosing a fabric with the appropriate quality and cost will ensure that a product will suit the target market [target market: the end-user or consumer group to whom the manufacturer aims to sell ] and do the job it is intended to do. When making fabric choices, ask yourself the following questions:

• Fibre content - should you use natural [natural: derived from animal, vegetable or mineral sources ] or synthetic [synthetic: man-made - usually from chemical sources ] fibres?
• Fabric construction - should you use woven, knitted or non-woven?
• Manufacturing processes - should you use dyeing, printing, mechanical finishing [mechanical finishing: treatment of a fabric by a machine, using heat and pressure to improve the fabric's appearance. ] or chemical finishing [chemical finishing: applying a chemical solution or resin to improve the appearance, handle or performance of a fabric. ]?
• End-use of the fabric. What are you making - jeans, jumper, sportswear or a seatbelt?
• Maintenance. What are the aftercare [aftercare: how a textile should be washed, ironed, dried or dry-cleaned to maintain its properties. ] requirements of the product?

The fibre content, fabric construction and finishing processes determine the fabric's aesthetic [aesthetic: relating to shape, style, colour, pattern and other aspects of a product's visual appeal ], functional [functional: relating to the performance of a product - its 'fitness for purpose' ] and comfort properties.

Properties of fabric

It is important to match fabric properties to the requirements of the product. For example:

• Cycling jackets need to be made from warm, breathable, elastic, windproof, water-resistant fabric.
• Children's jumpers need to be made from soft, colourful, stretchy, warm, easy-care fabric.
• Seat belts, airbags or conveyor belts need to be made from strong, durable, flame-resistant materials.
• Fire protective clothing needs to be strong, durable, flame- and water-resistant. It may also need to be breathable and elastic.
• Geotextiles [geotextiles: textile materials used in contact with soil or rocks in the construction of roads or embankments. They stabilise the land and enable water to filter through. ] need to be strong and durable so they stop embankments from slipping.

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