Fabric and Apparel

About this unit

This unit takes the study of textiles and clothing into the professional world. It covers how large institutions such as hospitals, hotels and hostels care for their fabrics, how the elements and principles of design are used in fabrics and garments, and how the fashion industry designs, produces and sells clothing.

Key ideas

• Institutional laundries handle large volumes of linen and follow fixed steps from collection to storage.
• Cleaning agents, bleaches and finishes must suit the fibre and the type of soil or stain.
• Elements of design (colour, line, texture, shape) are arranged using principles (balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, harmony).
• Colour can be described by hue, value and intensity and combined into colour schemes.
• Fashion moves through a cycle, and merchandising brings the right product to the right customer.

How to prepare

• Learn the steps of the laundry process and the right bleach and stain treatment for each fibre.
• Draw a colour wheel and memorise the colour schemes with an example of each.
• Revise fashion terms (style, fad, classic, trend) and the stages of the fashion cycle.