Difference Between Material, Textile, Fabric, and Cloth | Part 2

What Is Textile?
Textile is the broadest term of the four in the textile industry. It refers to any material like fibers, filaments, and yarns, and intermediate or resulting products made from these materials. Though it originally meant woven fabrics, “textile” now encompasses a much wider range of things, including fabrics and cloth crafted through weaving, knitting, crocheting, bonding, felting, and other processes that transform raw materials into usable items. Textiles can be any fiber-based material or products, either natural (like cotton, wool, or silk) or synthetic (like polyester or nylon). Here are some examples of textiles: cords, braids, nets, lace, fabrics, clothing, and more. Thus, textiles don’t just end up in fashion. They play a massive role in other industries as well—such as automotive (think of those fancy car seats), medical textiles (like wound dressings or surgical gowns), and even in construction materials. Textiles are everywhere, even when we don’t notice them! Textiles can be categorized into woven, knitted, and nonwoven varieties, each with unique properties that make them suitable for different applications. For example, woven textiles (like denim) are durable and ideal for making sturdy clothing, while knitted textiles (like jerseys) offer more stretch and comfort, making them perfect for casual wear. weaving = a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth knitting = a method for production of textile fabrics by interlacing yarn loops with loops of the same or other yarns crocheting = a process of creating textiles by connecting wool or other thread into joined rows using a single needle with a hook bonding = a technique where two or more layers of fabric or materials are joined together to create a single, composite material felting = the method of making wool or other cloth into felt (= a thick, soft cloth) by rolling and pressing it and using hot water or a special needle automotive = relating to motor vehicles surgical gown = a protective garment worn by doctors(surgeons) to minimize the risk of infection wound dressing = a material applied directly to a wound to protect it and promote healing See also Difference Between Material, Textile, Fabric, and Cloth | Part 1