The Textile Book - Hardcover

Colin Gale & Jasbir Kaur

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 185973507X ISBN 13: 9781859735077

Publisher: Berg Publishers, 2002

Synopsis

Textiles are central to our lives and are at the heart of the world's largest industries. In recent years there has been a dynamic shift in attitudes toward textiles, fuelled in part by explosive developments in technology. While textiles have always retained roots in craft and industry, the discipline now embraces a much wider range of practices. Innovations in the industry demand a fresh approach to the subject, which this comprehensive introduction ably supplies. Taking as their starting point the very meaning of textiles, Gale and Kaur go on to show the astonishing range of opportunities for careers in the field, from the creative (artists, craftspeople and designers) to the social and industrial, to the commercial and associated practices (buyers, journalists, researchers and scientists). The Textile Book takes us behind the scenes with professionals to reveal what various jobs involve, what influences decision makers, and how their decisions affect what we buy next season. What happens to clothes before they reach the shops? What determines the 'must have' item? How can recycled bottles be transformed into silk-like yarns? These and many other questions are explored to show the diversity that makes up the contemporary global textile scene. Woven, printed, embroidered, knitted -- textiles are pivotal to the everyday experience of people in all parts of the world. This wide-ranging and informative book conveys the excitement and new challenges textiles represent and is essential reading for anyone working with, studying or simply interested in textiles.

About this title

Review:

"Essential reading for anyone considering a career in textiles." --Embroidery Magazine

From the Author:

The Textile Book provides a broad introduction to the world of textiles. Amply illustrated it is full of issues, examples, contributions from professionals and has many leads for further research (including many website links). It is designed primarily for Sixth Form, FE and Undergraduate students and their staff. An ideal ‘first book’, it provides a clear overview and categorisation of all aspects of textiles. There are fifteen sections – What is Textiles?, The Cultural Place of Textiles, Perceptions of Fabric, The Textile Designer, The Designer-Maker, The Craftsperson, The Textile Artist, Global Textile Traditions, Ecology, Industry, The Role of Trends and Forecasting, The Buyer, Journalism, Science, Research. The book is structured in such a way it can be used as the basis of a lecture/seminar programme or as an aid to students in writing dissertations and essays. The book is fully international in scope and will be of use to a wide variety of disciplines with an interest in textiles, including art, design, business and retail, theoretical and critical studies.

About this edition

• Publisher: Berg Publishers
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 185973507X
• ISBN 13: 9781859735077
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 232