Fashion design: the dynamics of textiles in advancing cultural memes

The chapter describes the role of fashion design in the dynamics between the global textile industry and the growing power of retail. The effect and importance of textiles, expressively promoted by designers as carriers of cultural memes, is explored. How and why choices for fabrics are made, how this scenario was established and has changed over the last century through technological progress, education and further challenged by the progress of communications and CAD/CAM is discussed. Opportunities for closer co-design ventures between suppliers and consumers are predicted. At the same time movements towards sustainability and consumer and corporate conscience provokes implications and repercussions for future perspectives and changes in longstanding cultural habits.

Publisher's text about this book:

- a broad overview of textile design covering fundamental topics such as principles of fibres and fabrics, knitted fabric design, through to the dyeing, finishing and printing aspects of textile design
- explores the design aspects of technical textiles and future textiles
- an invaluable source of information on textile design and suitable for design professionals in the textile and fashion industries, as well as those in academia

Textile design is a complex field of practice which operates in a competitive, global industry. Designers need to take into account not only the design but also the manufacture, technological development and application of the final product. Textile design provides a broad overview of the fundamentals of and advances in textile design, as well as practical case studies of relevant industries.

Part one covers the principles of fabric construction as applied to textile design, with chapters on fundamental principles, woven and knitted textile design. Part two discusses surface approaches to textile design, with chapters on such topics as surface design of textiles, printed and embroidered textile design, dyeing and finishing and the use of colour in textile design. Finally, part three focuses on the applications and advances in textile design, including chapters covering colour trend forecasting, sustainable textile design, fashion, interior and 2D to 3D design considerations and new developments in technical and future textiles.

With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Textile design is an essential reference for design professionals in the textile and fashion industries, as well as those who specialise in interior textiles and academics with a research interest in the area.

Published in association with The Textile Institute