Comprehensive Textile Fundamentals, Manufacturing, and Trade Guide

Basic Textile Structural Components and Terminology

  • Fiber:

    • Defined as the smallest part of the fabric.

  • Yarn:

    • A continuous threadlike strand composed of fibers that have been twisted together.

  • Fabric:

    • Material made from yarns that are either woven or knitted.

  • Greige:

    • Unfinished fabric that has not yet undergone dyeing, printing, or finishing treatments.

  • Finished Goods:

    • Fabric that has been put through final treatments that make the fabric suitable for the intended end use.

  • Put-Up:

    • The term used to indicate the specific way fabric is packaged when sold.

Textile Manufacturing and Processing Operations

  • Mill:

    • A company that owns textile machinery and makes fabric.

  • Vertically Integrated Mill:

    • Large textile mills that not only make the fabric, but also produce the yarn and perform the finishing processes required after the fabric has been created.

  • Dyeing:

    • The process of imparting a solid color to textiles.

  • Printing:

    • The process of imparting designs to textiles (such as dots, florals, stripes, etc.).

  • Overrun:

    • Occurs when a mill produces more dyed, printed, or finished fabric than the order specified.

Textile Industry Trade Roles and Intermediaries

  • Converter:

    • An individual or organization that buys greige goods (that is, unfinished fabric), usually from mills.

    • The converter has the fabric dyed or printed and finished by other companies.

    • The converter then sells the finished fabric.

  • Jobber:

    • An entity that buys mill or converter fabrics that might otherwise be difficult to sell.

    • Purchases include discontinued styles, discontinued colors, and mill overruns.

  • Overseas Agent:

    • A person or company that represents an exporter or importer in the countries overseas where it conducts business.

    • Also called an intermediary.

Major Categories of Textile End-Uses

  • Apparel:

    • The textiles used in clothing.

  • Interior Textiles:

    • The textiles used in furniture, bath, kitchen, and bedding.

    • Also called soft goods.

  • Industrial Products:

    • The textiles used in specialized non-apparel items, including:

    • Luggage

    • Flags

    • Boat sails

    • Bandages

    • Disposable dust filters

    • Other related items

Retail Branding Strategies and Ethical Standards

  • Exclusive Brand:

    • A national brand with distribution through one retailer.

    • Also known as a captive brand.

  • Private Label:

    • A retail brand in which apparel or other sewn products are manufactured specifically for a retailer and sold exclusively by that retailer.

  • Fair Trade:

    • Indicates a product was produced without labor exploitation.

    • Requires the use of environmentally sustainable practices.

    • Guarantees that the producers received fair prices for their product.