Fashion News Directory

Textile News Directory

The textile industry is primarily concerned with the design and production of textile fibers, yarn, cloth, clothing, and the distribution of these products. The words fabric and cloth are used in textile assembly trades (such as tailoring and dressmaking) as synonyms for textile. However, there are subtle differences in these terms in specialized usage. Textile refers to any material made of interlacing fibres. A fabric is a material made through weaving, knitting, spreading, crocheting, or bonding that may be used in production of further goods (garments, etc.). Cloth may be used synonymously with fabric but is often a finished piece of fabric used for a specific purpose (e.g., table cloth).

The woven fabric portion of the textile industry grew out of the industrial revolution in the 18th century as mass production of yarn and cloth became a mainstream industry.

• Textile Industry News (Bing)

• Textile Industry News (Google)

Bloomberg Textile Industry News: Breaking news about Textile Industry. Find the latest articles, videos, photos and blogs about Textile Industry.

The Economic Times (India)

New York Times Textile Industry News: News about Textiles, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

The raw material may be natural, or synthetic.  Synthetic fibers can also be referenced as artificial fibers or man-made fibers.  Artificial fibers can be made by extruding a polymer, through a spinneret into a medium where it hardens. Natural fibers are either from animals (sheep, goat, rabbit, silk-worm) mineral (asbestos) or from plants (cotton, flax, sisal).

Here are a few important textile industry news events from the past.

In 1734 in Bury, Lancashire, John Kay invented the flying shuttle — one of the first of a series of inventions associated with the cotton woven fabric industry. The flying shuttle increased the width of cotton cloth and speed of production of a single weaver at a loom. 

In 1764, James Hargreaves is credited as inventor of the spinning jenny which multiplied the spun thread production capacity of a single worker — initially eightfold and subsequently much further.

The stocking frame invented in 1589 for silk became viable when in 1759, Jedediah Strutt introduced an attachment for the frame which produced what became known as the Derby Rib, which allowed stockings to be manufactured in cotton.

Rayon invented in 1910.

DuPont's nylon was invented in 1935 as in inexpensive silk substitute.

In the 1920s, the computer was invented; in the 1940s, acetate, modacrylic, metal fibres, and saran were developed; acrylic, polyester, and spandex were introduced in the 1950s. Polyester became hugely popular in the apparel market, and by the late 1970s, more polyester was sold in the United States than cotton.

Industry integration and global manufacturing led to many small firms closing for good during the 1970s and 1980s in the United States; during those decades, 95 percent of the looms in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia shut down, and Alabama and Virginia also saw many factories close.

Additional textile industry news pages:

Textile News

Textile fiber News

Textile Articles

Find suppliers of textile fibers and fabrics in our manufacturing section.  Learn more about the industry from the links below.

Textile Industry

fabric Finishers

fabric Definitions

Textile Definition

Textile Industry Associations

If you enjoy news or journalism, you may want to visit our fashion writers section, or visit the Apparel Magazine website if you wish to do some further reading.