Texture and Light in Fashion Design

Definition of Texture

The surface quality of an object, encompassing tactile and visual aspects.

Actual (Physical) Texture

The tangible form of a surface that causes physical sensation when touched.

Simulated Texture

The faithful visual rendering of a real texture.

Trompe l'oeil

An artistic effect where texture is used to fool the eye.

Abstract Texture

A simulated texture that has been simplified or abstracted.

Aesthetic Properties of Texture

Drape, hand, density, luster, surface contour, and thermal character.

Drape

The way a fabric hangs or falls into soft or crisp folds.

Hand

The way a fabric feels when in contact with the skin.

Resilience (Fabric)

The ability of a texture to recover its original form after deformation.

Density (Texture)

The volume of a texture, including its thickness and weight.

Luster

The way light is reflected by a surface, such as sheen or matte.

Surface Contour

Features diverging from a flat plane, such as smoothness or roughness.

Thermal Character

Fabric temperature as compared to human skin temperature.

Structural Elements of Fabric

Fiber content, yarn structure, fabric structure, and finishes.

Fiber Content Types

Natural and man-made or manufactured fibers.

Yarn Structure Types

Staple and filament yarns.

Fabric Structures

Woven, knit, and nonwoven structures.

Definition of Light

Electromagnetic energy resulting from electron vibration that makes things visible.

Wavelength (Light)

The distance between the peak of one light wave and the next.

Frequency (Light)

The speed of light wave vibrations.

4 Categories of Light in Fashion

Reflected, represented, emitted, and projected light.

Reflected Light

The interaction between light and a fabric surface.

Represented Light

A graphic interpretation or symbolic representation of light.

Emitted Light

Light radiating from a source originating from within clothing.

Projected Light

Light originating from a projector or holography onto a clothing surface.

Light and Color Relationship

Color is visible light with a specific wavelength.

Black and White (Physics)

White contains all visible light wavelengths; black is the total absence of visible light.