Since the time Eve tempted Adam to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge which made them aware that they were naked, the need for textile came into existence. Textile which is also referred as cloth or fabric is made of a blend of natural or artificial fibers known as yarn or thread. Raw wool or cotton is processed in a spinning wheel, and long threads are obtained which is known as yarn. The main types of textiles are plain weave, and twill or satin weave. In a plain weave, the threads are aligned in a simple criss-cross pattern. Plain weave is also known as "tabby weave" or "taffeta weave." In twill weave, two or more threads are passed one over the other and are most suited for cold weather. Eg. Denim.Types of Textile:
Textile is made from many materials such as, animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic. Textile made of animal hair or fur is referred as woolen clothing. Delicate fibers from the cocoon of the Chinese silkworm is taken and woven into appealing silk clothing. Cotton, flax, jute and hemp are some plants used in making clothes. Fibers extracted from pineapple are used, generally with a blend of other fabrics such as cotton. Asbestos fibers are used for making fire blankets. Glass fiber is used for making space suits. Polyester fibers are used either alone or with a blend of cotton.
Story of the Spindle:
In the early ages, weaving was divided among the members of the family itself. Women and girls cleaned the fleece and were responsible for spinning. Spinning was normally done by the unmarried girls of the house called 'spinsters'. This term still exists which denotes an unmarried lady. The process of weaving demands more energy and hence was undertaken by men.
Growth of Textile Industries - Britain's Secret:
The history of textile industry started in Britain as spinning and weaving machines were invented there. During the eighteenth century Britain decided to sustain its control over the textile market through monopoly. Hence it avoided the export of machinery or communication of machinery configurations to foreign countries. Britain decided that monopoly could be maintained only if the textile enigma is preserved.
Later on during the 19th century, textile industries spread across to Europe and North America and further developed after highly technical machineries entered the market. Now, the value of global textile market is more than $400 billion. Industry enthusiasts predict that still there will be a growth of 25 per cent by 2010 in the textile industry and Asia will be leading the textile market.
Global Textile Retailing:
Textile retailing has developed drastic changes in the past few decades. Textiles and clothing are among the sectors where developing countries have the most to gain from. Retailing has become more rigorous particularly in the textile sector. It has brought a lot of employment opportunities and also a considerable amount of export surplus. It can be termed as a self-reliant industry with significant value addition in various phases starting from the consumption of raw material to delivery of finished goods. Fashion retailers face tough competition with the supermarket chains as the latter has started selling clothes which were so far available only in fashion shops. Countries like UK, Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Sweden contribute relatively more to textile production.
The fact that China's textile exports has increased in leaps and bounds during 2005 has caused ripples in the international textile market. To take control of China's domination in the global textile market, US and European Union has placed severe restrictions on the import of textile products from China. The consequence of this restriction is in favor of India, where it has a rosy future in two money-spinning markets. The overall textile exports from India to these two countries increased by 26 percent and 18 percent respectively. The overall exports from India are expected to rise by 15 percent more making it a "Vertically Integrated Textile Powerhouse".
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