Textiles; a handbook for the student and the consumer

This practical guide explores textiles from both the technical and everyday viewpoints, helping students and consumers understand how fabrics are made, used, tested, and judged. It considers the major fibers and textile industries, including cotton, wool, silk, rayon, and newer developments in knitting, lace, dyeing, and manufacturing.

With attention to science, economics, and household needs, the book explains how fiber properties affect appearance, strength, comfort, care, and value. It also places textiles within a broader industrial and social context, discussing standardization, honest labeling, advertising, retail practices, and the consumer’s role in shaping the industry.

Clear explanations are supported by practical suggestions for textile tests, dyeing experiments, statistics, and reference tables. Whether approached as a study manual or a guide to wiser purchasing and use, this work offers a detailed foundation for understanding the fabrics that surround daily life.