Textile Product Performance
A Practical Guide for Designers and Buyers
1st Edition
Published on 11. December 2025
296 pages
978-1-350-10559-1 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the fundamentals of selecting and testing textiles in the apparel industry. Covering 80+ fibres and fabrics, Angela Davies explains how designers, technologists and buyers can effectively test and choose the most suitable textiles for their products.
How do you ensure your winter gear will protect you from the cold and wet? Can you be sure a 'little black dress' won't look a little grey after two months? What fabric will endure playground tumbles, be soft on delicate skin, and still be affordable? Situating textile choice and testing within the wider industry, Textile Product Performance covers:
- testing methods to assess durability, aesthetics, comfort, health and safety for common materials and products
- standard requirements and common international regulations
- helpful overviews of advanced textiles and testing methods, from sustainable textiles to medical materials.
This practical guide also features 10 in-depth case studies with industry professionals including colouration experts, interior designers, and technologists from fashion brands like New Balance and River Island.
Whether you're a student, designer, or industry professional, Textile Product Performance is the essential resource to help you understand the fundamentals of textile selection and testing and apply these principles with confidence in your work.
How do you ensure your winter gear will protect you from the cold and wet? Can you be sure a 'little black dress' won't look a little grey after two months? What fabric will endure playground tumbles, be soft on delicate skin, and still be affordable? Situating textile choice and testing within the wider industry, Textile Product Performance covers:
- testing methods to assess durability, aesthetics, comfort, health and safety for common materials and products
- standard requirements and common international regulations
- helpful overviews of advanced textiles and testing methods, from sustainable textiles to medical materials.
This practical guide also features 10 in-depth case studies with industry professionals including colouration experts, interior designers, and technologists from fashion brands like New Balance and River Island.
Whether you're a student, designer, or industry professional, Textile Product Performance is the essential resource to help you understand the fundamentals of textile selection and testing and apply these principles with confidence in your work.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
61 colour illus
ISBN-13
978-1-350-10559-1 (9781350105591)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 01/2026
Bloomsbury Visual Arts
€41.00
Not yet published
Person
Angela Davies is Associate Professor in textile and garment technology at De Montfort University, UK. She has been principal and co-investigator on several regionally, nationally and internationally funded projects, working with technical textile and medical enterprises to develop new products and processes. Her research interests include product performance and quality control; sustainable textile development; medical, technical and performance textiles; wearable technologies; product development for durability and longevity; and textile end of life management, including biodegradation and composting.
Content
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Industrial Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Product Performance
Introduction
What is product performance?
Customers within the textile industry
The supply chain
Roles in the textile industry
The role of quality control versus quality assurance
Why test textiles?
Testing location and the environment
Testing methodologies
Introduction to performance specifications
Summary
2. Fibres and Fabrics
Introduction
What are the categories of fibres?
Fibres and their properties
Fibre blends
Fibre into fabric form
Blended yarns
Material structures
Weaving
Dyeing and printing of textiles
Colour interaction and theory
Finishing of textiles
Summary
3. Textile Testing
Introduction
The types of testing
How to test textiles
Testing methods
Testing of fibres and yarns
Fibre properties
Fabric testing
Performance testing
Durability
Durability tests
Aesthetics - appearance, fashion, fit
Fibre shedding/ pile removal
Aesthetics testing
Comfort - how the fabric interacts with the body
Comfort testing
Care - maintaining appearance
Labelling
Care testing
Colour- the importance of maintaining colour on a textile
Colour testing
Resistance to the elements - protection from rain, wind, sun etc
Environmental resistance
Safety - protection from hazards
Safety testing
Biological resistance - protection from degradation
Biological resistance testing
Summary
4. Testing Results and Conformance
Introduction
What are specification sheets?
Wearer/ user trials versus laboratory testing
Mannequins in place of wearer trials
Chapter summary
5. Advanced Testing
Advanced testing
Innovations in colouration and finishing
Sustainable textiles
Chapter summary
6. Industrial Case Studies
Rob Croskell, The Textile Detective, SGS
Dr. Tom O'Haire, Camira Fabrics
Krupa Christopher, Fabric technologist, River Island
Jacqui Brewin, Garment Technologist, George of ASDA (formally part of Walmart)
Rebecca Bennett, Material Specialist and Jon Robson, Quality Manager, Pentland Brands Limited
Dave Wilson, UK Sample Dye house Manager, Crystal Martin International (a member of Crystal International Group)
Glen Chambers, Interiors Design, Chambers Design
Sarah Cuthbert, Burnham Peninsula
Kevin Guildford, Kevin Guildford Design
Jessica Tasker, Fabric Developer, New Balance
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
List of Tables
List of Industrial Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Product Performance
Introduction
What is product performance?
Customers within the textile industry
The supply chain
Roles in the textile industry
The role of quality control versus quality assurance
Why test textiles?
Testing location and the environment
Testing methodologies
Introduction to performance specifications
Summary
2. Fibres and Fabrics
Introduction
What are the categories of fibres?
Fibres and their properties
Fibre blends
Fibre into fabric form
Blended yarns
Material structures
Weaving
Dyeing and printing of textiles
Colour interaction and theory
Finishing of textiles
Summary
3. Textile Testing
Introduction
The types of testing
How to test textiles
Testing methods
Testing of fibres and yarns
Fibre properties
Fabric testing
Performance testing
Durability
Durability tests
Aesthetics - appearance, fashion, fit
Fibre shedding/ pile removal
Aesthetics testing
Comfort - how the fabric interacts with the body
Comfort testing
Care - maintaining appearance
Labelling
Care testing
Colour- the importance of maintaining colour on a textile
Colour testing
Resistance to the elements - protection from rain, wind, sun etc
Environmental resistance
Safety - protection from hazards
Safety testing
Biological resistance - protection from degradation
Biological resistance testing
Summary
4. Testing Results and Conformance
Introduction
What are specification sheets?
Wearer/ user trials versus laboratory testing
Mannequins in place of wearer trials
Chapter summary
5. Advanced Testing
Advanced testing
Innovations in colouration and finishing
Sustainable textiles
Chapter summary
6. Industrial Case Studies
Rob Croskell, The Textile Detective, SGS
Dr. Tom O'Haire, Camira Fabrics
Krupa Christopher, Fabric technologist, River Island
Jacqui Brewin, Garment Technologist, George of ASDA (formally part of Walmart)
Rebecca Bennett, Material Specialist and Jon Robson, Quality Manager, Pentland Brands Limited
Dave Wilson, UK Sample Dye house Manager, Crystal Martin International (a member of Crystal International Group)
Glen Chambers, Interiors Design, Chambers Design
Sarah Cuthbert, Burnham Peninsula
Kevin Guildford, Kevin Guildford Design
Jessica Tasker, Fabric Developer, New Balance
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
