Textiles — Functional & Aesthetic (AQA GCSE Design & Technology): Revision Note

Functionality of textiles

• The functionality of textiles is to provide flexible, comfortable and versatile materials that can be used for clothing, furnishings and technical applications

  • Textiles offering properties such as strength, insulation and stretch

• Examples of applications of textiles are:

  • Clothing

    • Cotton t-shirts

    • Wool jumpers

    • Polyester sportswear

  • Home furnishings

    • Curtains

    • Bedding

  • Technical uses

    • Nylon ropes

  • Disposable products

    • Bonded fabrics for face masks

• Textiles are generally easy to cut, sew and shape into products

• Some fabrics, for example, cotton, are easier to handle

• Others, such as stretchy knitted fabrics, require more skill to work with

Aesthetics of textiles: surface finish, texture & colour

• The aesthetics of textiles refers to how they look and feel, including their:

  • Surface finish

  • Texture

  • Colour

• These are important for comfort and appearance

Surface finish

• Textiles can have different finishes, such as:

  • Smooth, e.g. silk

  • Soft, e.g. wool

  • Coated, e.g. water-resistant bonded fabrics

Texture

• Textures vary widely, from soft and smooth, e.g. silk, to rougher or thicker, e.g. wool or felt

  • The texture depends on the fibres used and the construction

Colour

• Textiles can be dyed in a wide range of colours and patterns

  • This allows for fashion, branding and design choices

Availability of textiles: ease of sourcing & purchase

• The availability of textiles refers to how easy they are to obtain for manufacturing

• Textiles are widely available globally

  • Both natural and synthetic fibres are produced in large quantities

• Textiles can be purchased in rolls, sheets or pre-made components

  • This makes them suitable for different manufacturing processes

Cost of textiles: bulk buying

• The cost of textiles varies depending on the:

  • Type of fibre

  • Production method

• Synthetic fibres, e.g. polyester, are generally cheaper and more cost-effective when bought in bulk

• Natural fibres like silk are more expensive