How to get your future in textiles all stitched up
DEMAND for textile technologists is growing swiftly.
Rebecca Unsworth, executive director of The Textile Institute, says this is particularly the case in sectors such as defence, aerospace, agricultural and healthcare that use technical fabrics providing protection from water, heat or radiation, for example.
Laura Mclean, 32, is a design and product development technologist at Keela, which manufactures technical workwear for the emergency services and the military as well as outdoor clothing.
Laura says: ‘I source samples of fabric and trims, then organise any necessary in-house tests, such as hydrostatic head testing, which measures how waterproof a fabric is.
‘We can also test for flexibility, strength and resistance to abrasion, and also wash fabrics to test for colour-fastness.’
Once the fabric is approved it is sent to Keela’s factory for samples to be made for wearer testing, before finally going for production.
Laura says: ‘It’s very rewarding seeing members of the emergency services wearing clothing I’ve been involved in developing.’
Laura, who joined Keela in Glenrothes, Fife, as a graduate of a clothing design and manufacture course that included textile testing, says: ‘If you want a textile technology career take a relevant course and get work experience — there are quite a few technical fabric manufacturers in the UK.’
Keela director Samantha Fernando says: ‘We employ three people in design of technical products and four on machines, adhesives and fabrics. We look for a relevant degree, but more important is a genuine interest in technical textile production, research and development.
‘We have taken people with manufacturing, engineering and design skills and trained them in textile technology in-house, because it is such a niche skill.’
Keela has also taken people on placements.
The Textile Institute recommends a qualification in textiles but Rebecca Unsworth adds: ‘Employers also recruit from chemical and physical sciences, engineering, fashion/ clothing design and technology.
‘A placement year while studying helps. Practical experience counts for a lot in the industry.’
prospects.ac.uk/ job-profiles/clothing-textiletechnologist, textileinstitute. org, keela.co.uk