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 Fabrics and textiles are incredibly versatile materials which have many different capabilities and which are called upon to do varied and challenging jobs. Far from being simply the clothes we wear, fabrics and textiles cloak our homes, our cars, our offices, our public transport, our sporting equipment and teams, our children's toys, and much more. As such, fabrics need to be treated or manufactured in specific ways that will allow the textiles to properly carry out their required duties – whether this be to keep out the rain, to allow breezes through, to protect from the sun or insects, to be bullet or fire proof, or to resist the every day wear and tear. On top of these manifold requirements, fabric also has to look and feel nice – or else people will avoid using it. This means that patterns or colours need to be dyed into the materials, and softening and cleaning agents need to be used.
Fabric and textile treatment accounts for the practical and the aesthetic aspects of material. Treatment can make the fabric stronger or safer, whilst dyeing and bleaching can change the appearance of the fabric altogether. The treatments undertaken may make use of chemicals or organic solutions, or may be reliant on the elements – heat, water and air are all effective. Stretching, pounding, soaking and drying are also common practices. In essence, fabric treatment can be defined as being the processes that change our fabrics and textiles from raw mass-product into the finished articles that we use in our homes, transport, and of course our clothes.
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