To be a good textile designer requires more than being artistic or creative. You must possess an eye for color, an appreciation of patterns, a good feel for fabric textures, and a sensitivity to touch. But that is not the end of the story. There are more responsibilities expected of you.
You must:
1. Be minimally artistic.
2. Have a creative flair.
3. Pay exceptional attention to detail.
5. Be CAD (computer-aided design) proficient.
4. Have some design skills.
6. Understand textile production techniques and processes.
7. Be materials style-aware.
As a textile designer creating different fabric styles, you should also be interested in fashion, style, and interior décor. And having business and textile management skills is an added plus, especially if you work as a freelancer or if your goal is to carve out a career in the textile industry.
The Importance of Textile Designing
Textile materials are required to decorate our homes, and surroundings, as well as adorn our bodies. Linen, carpets, towels, upholstery, and umbrellas are made from textile materials, and so are football turfs, filters, astronomers’ suits, and artificial organs. They are made into everything from shoes and bags to cables and structures.
With their awesome creations which many times go unnoticed, textile designers:
- Create the themes of fabric that hides our nakedness.
- Makes us stand out distinctly from each other through colours and patterns.
- Can tell us about approaching seasons.
- Can make bold statements.
- Make our homes look inviting and beautiful.
- Make our textile-based furniture and furnishings feel soft and comfortable.
- Shades and covers our windows for indoor privacy.
- Allows us to establish our personalities.
- Plays important roles in every culture, their celebrations, and rituals.
… And the list goes on. They are found in an endless number of elements, features, components, and qualities that are developed to protect us, our environment, and life itself.
Further reading:
Top Sewing Fabrics for the Fashion and Apparel Industry
Graph Grid Sketchbook for Textile Designing Students
Unusual Textiles – Glossary of Unfamiliar Fabric Names You Don’t Know Of