textile science by Kayla Williams

Greige Goods

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:07:54 UTC

textiles or fabrics in their raw, unfinished state, meaning they have not been bleached, dyed, or otherwise fully processed

Dyes

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:08:38 UTC

a natural or synthetic substance used to add a color to or change the color of something

Stock Dyeing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:09:58 UTC

textile dyeing process where loose, unspun fibers (the "stock") are submerged in a dye bath before they are spun into yarn

Solution Dyeing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:11:49 UTC

color pigment is mixed into the liquid raw material (polymer) before it's spun into fiber, making the color go all the way through the fiber's core, not just on the surface

Yarn Dyeing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:13:25 UTC

textile process that involves coloring yarn before it is woven or knitted into fabric, resulting in a yarn-dyed fabric

Piece Dyeing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-23 18:15:42 UTC

the process of coloring fabric after it has been woven or knitted, but before it is cut and sewn into a garment

Product Dyeing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:50:04 UTC

a manufacturing process that imparts a specific, uniform color to textile materials, including fibers, yarns, fabrics, or finished goods, by applying dyes or pigments in an aqueous medium

Synthetic Fiber Dyes

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:51:15 UTC

artificial colorants produced through chemical processes, designed to chemically or physically bond with synthetic fibers (like polyester, nylon, and acrylic) to impart color.

Acid Dyes

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:52:15 UTC

water-soluble, negatively charged dye containing acidic groups that bonds electrostatically with positively charged sites on fibers

Fiber Reactive Dyes

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:54:57 UTC

a type of dye, like Procion MX dye, that chemically bonds with natural fibers, such as cotton, rayon, hemp, linen, and silk, to create brilliant, permanent, and wash-fast colors

Disperse Dye

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:56:06 UTC

a slightly water-soluble, nonionic dye used to color synthetic fibers like polyester and acetate by dispersing it into very fine, insoluble particles in a water-based dye bath

Colorfast

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:57:15 UTC

one that resists fading, bleeding, or running when exposed to external factors like light, water, or friction, retaining its original hue and integrity over time

Roller Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:58:50 UTC

a textile printing method patented by Thomas Bell in 1783 that applies a colored pattern to fabric using a series of engraved copper rollers

Screen Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 17:59:47 UTC

the technique of creating a picture or pattern by forcing ink or metal on to a surface through a screen of fine material.

Rotary Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:00:35 UTC

a high-speed printing process using rotating cylinders to apply designs to materials

Heat Transfer Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:01:33 UTC

a method of decorating various materials, such as textiles, mugs, and accessories, by using heat and pressure to apply a pre-printed design from a specialized paper or film onto the item's surface

Resist Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:02:36 UTC

a fabric dyeing or printing method where a dye-resistant substance, known as a "resist," is applied to parts of the fabric to block dye from reaching those areas

Wood Block Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:03:43 UTC

a relief printing technique that creates images or text by carving a design into a wooden block, inking the raised portions, and pressing it onto paper or fabric

Digital Printing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:04:40 UTC

a printing method that transfers images and designs directly from digital files to a variety of media, such as paper, canvas, or fabric, without the need for printing plates, screens, or other pre-press processes

Stone/Acid Washing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:05:34 UTC

a textile finishing technique for denim that creates a unique, distressed, faded, and sometimes mottled appearance by combining abrasive pumice stones with a chemical bleach solution

Napping

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:06:27 UTC

a textured, raised surface created by fibers that lie in a uniform direction

Flocking

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:07:26 UTC

a finishing process that applies millions of tiny, short fibers—known as flock—to an adhesive-coated fabric surface, creating a soft, velvet-like texture

Brushing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:21:45 UTC

a finishing process where mechanical brushes are used to raise the fibers on the surface of a fabric, creating a soft, plush, and warm texture known as a nap

Embossing

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:22:52 UTC

a decorative process that creates a raised or depressed design on a fabric's surface by pressing it with engraved rollers, dies, or plates, imparting a unique texture, visual depth, and sophistication to the material

Antimicrobial/Antibiotic/Antifungal

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:23:40 UTC

antimicrobial fabric is treated to inhibit the growth of broad-spectrum microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, mold, and viruses), while antibacterial fabric specifically targets bacteria, and antifungal fabric targets fungi like mold and mildew

Antistatic

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:24:34 UTC

a property of a material that either prevents static charge from building up or allows it to dissipate quickly, typically by incorporating conductive fibers or using moisture-attracting chemical finishes to increase surface conductivity

Durable Press/Permanent Press

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:25:15 UTC

a finish applied to a fabric to make it chemically resistant to wrinkles and help it retain its shape

Shrinkage Control/Sanforized

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:26:19 UTC

pre-treatment that mechanically compacts fabric to reduce its tendency to shrink after subsequent washing or wearing

Mercerization

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:27:20 UTC

a chemical finishing process that treats cellulosic fibers, especially cotton, with a strong caustic soda (NaOH) solution under tension to enhance their properties, resulting in increased luster (shine), tensile strength, and greater affinity for dyes

Stain Release/Stain Resistant

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:28:09 UTC

stain resistant finishes repel liquids, causing them to bead up on the fabric's surface, while stain release finishes allow absorbed stains to be easily washed out of the fabric due to a hydrophilic (water-loving) finish

Water Repellent/Waterproof

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:29:14 UTC

water-repellent finishes make water bead up and roll off the fabric's surface, providing protection against light moisture, while waterproof materials form a complete barrier that prevents water from penetrating the fabric, even under heavy rain or prolonged exposure

Flame Resistant

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:30:04 UTC

materials that are self-extinguishing, meaning they will not continue to burn once the heat source is removed and will not ignite easily

Mildew Resistance

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:31:06 UTC

the ability of a fabric to inhibit the growth of mildew and mold

Moth Resistance

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:32:07 UTC

a treatment, often a chemical application, that makes fabric, especially wool and other animal fibers, unpalatable or directly poisonous to moth larvae

Wrinkle Resistant/Crease Resistant

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:33:17 UTC

material that has been treated to resist creasing and hold its shape, requiring less or no ironing after washing

Microfibers

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:34:03 UTC

a very fine synthetic yarn

Nanotechnology

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:36:33 UTC

Nanotechnology in textiles refers to the application and integration of materials and structures at thenanoscale (1 to 100 nanometers) to enhance the properties and functionality of fabrics

Microencapsulation

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:37:44 UTC

a process that embeds microscopic capsules containing active substances (like fragrances, moisturizers, or antimicrobial agents) within or onto a fabric, releasing these substances gradually in response to triggers like friction, heat, or moisture

Green Fabric Finishes

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:39:02 UTC

treatments applied to fabrics using environmentally friendly methods and materials to improve their properties, reduce harmful chemicals, and decrease energy and water consumption

Smart Fabrics

kwill1794_ — 2025-09-29 18:40:26 UTC

textiles integrated with technology, like e-textiles, that can sense external stimuli (such as temperature, light, or mechanical force) and respond in a functional way