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Gain a strong foundation in textile technology, exploring the principles of fibre properties, yarn production, fabric construction and textile manufacturing processes.

Textile technology underpins the development of every textile product, influencing performance, quality, sustainability and end use. Whether you’re new to textiles, looking to broaden your industry knowledge or seeking a deeper understanding of materials and manufacturing, this course will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about textile selection, product development and production.

This course forms part of the Textiles Technology Programme and can be taken as a standalone course or as part of the programme. You’ll learn in a small group of up to twelve participants, giving you plenty of opportunities for discussion, practical demonstrations and guidance.

A lecture setup featuring a comprehensive "Textile Fibers" classification diagram covering natural, synthetic, and sustainable materials alongside visual examples.

What Does the Course Cover?

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The fundamental concepts of textile technology, including fibre types, properties and their applications.
How yarns are manufactured and how yarn characteristics influence fabric performance, quality and end use.
Key spinning techniques and the transformation of fibres into yarns for a range of textile applications.
The principles of industrial weaving and knitting processes, and how they affect fabric structure, durability, texture and appearance.
The differences between woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics, including their unique characteristics and applications.
The fundamentals of textile coloration and dyeing processes, including how fabrics are developed for specific performance and design requirements.

What Skills Will You Gain?

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A solid understanding of key textile technology terminology, concepts and manufacturing processes.
The ability to make more informed decisions about fibre, yarn and fabric selection for different applications.
Gain insights into yarn spinning and fabric construction processes, enabling you to identify areas for process optimisation in textile manufacturing.
Enhance your knowledge of how fibres and fabrics impact garment performance, helping you create innovative and functional designs that meet market demands.
An understanding of how textile production processes affect fabric performance, quality and sustainability.
A strong foundation in textile technology to support further learning, specialisation and professional development within the textiles industry.

Who Is This Course For?

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This course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those looking to refresh or expand their understanding of textile technology.

Fashion and textile professionals seeking to strengthen their technical knowledge of fibres, yarns, fabrics and manufacturing processes.
Designers, buyers, product developers and sourcing professionals who want to make more informed material and production decisions.
Individuals interested in developing a deeper understanding of textile production and fabric performance.
Aspiring textile professionals looking to build industry-relevant knowledge and prepare for further study.
Participants planning to progress to the Textiles Technology in Action course.

This course was well organised and provided a strong foundation in textile fundamentals. The learning experience was enriched through a mix of videos, hands-on materials and tools that brought theory to life. The professors were engaged, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the subject matter, making the content accessible and inspiring. The team was welcoming, approachable and attentive, ensuring each participant had everything they needed throughout the week. Overall, it was an excellent learning experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone new to the industry or experienced professionals seeking a comprehensive refresher on textile fundamentals.

K.L.

Raw Materials Innovator

The Introduction to Textile Technology course has been a fantastic entry point into the fundamentals of textile production. It has given me a much clearer understanding of core industry concepts, which has directly supported the work I do within the Back to Baselines subnetwork. Gaining this foundational knowledge will help me better interpret the information I am reporting on and manage projects with more confidence. The course has deepened my understanding of the textile industry and enabled me to perform my role more meaningfully.

Leah

Network Coordinator

Back to Baselines

All materials and equipment required for the course are provided and included in the course fee.

Participants will also receive complimentary refreshments, including snacks, hot drinks and light breakfast pastries, along with a lunch voucher redeemable at the University Union refectory.

The University of Leeds is a globally recognised institution for textiles and fashion, offering access to outstanding specialist facilities in the heart of campus. Our facilities include advanced materials testing laboratories, fibre-spinning, wet- and melt-spinning facilities, a dedicated Nonwovens Lab and fully equipped knit and weave studios, providing practical demonstrations of a wide range of textile processes.

On-campus courses provide a collaborative learning environment where you’ll learn from experts using industry-standard equipment and techniques. From fibre and fabric development to nonwoven manufacturing and materials testing, you’ll gain practical skills and insights that you can apply immediately to your practice.

Find Out More About Our Facilities

Dr. Eleanor Scott

Lecturer in Fashion Design: Creative Knit and Innovation

Dr Eleanor Scott specialises in sustainable fashion, knitted textiles and textile innovation. Her expertise spans knitwear design, knit programming, design for disassembly, design for durability and user-personalised clothing, with a particular focus on sustainable product development and circular design.

Drawing on experience as both a fashion brand owner and researcher, Dr Scott combines industry insight with innovative research into waste reduction, seamless knitwear technologies and circular economy principles. Her work explores how design strategies, including Design for Disassembly and product durability, can support more sustainable approaches to textile and fashion production.

Course Contributors

Dr. Abdul Jabbar

Research Fellow in Sustainable Textile Manufacturing

Dr Abdul Jabbar specialises in sustainable textile manufacturing, with expertise in textile technology, sustainable production, textile durability, recycling and microplastic pollution. With over 15 years of experience across academia, research and industry, his work focuses on advancing sustainable practices and collaborating with industry partners to address key challenges facing the global textiles sector.

Drawing on experience in textile manufacturing alongside his research career, Dr Jabbar investigates topics including fibre fragmentation and microplastic release, textile wear and durability, spun yarn performance, woven textile technologies, and textile and fibre-reinforced composites. His research supports the development of more sustainable materials and manufacturing processes for the future of the textile industry.

Dr. Ioana Taylor

Research Fellow in Textile Engineering

Dr Ioana Taylor specialises in textile engineering, technical textiles and sustainable materials innovation. Her expertise spans nonwoven manufacturing, fibre extrusion, fabric characterisation and technical textiles for sports and protective clothing, with a particular focus on sustainable fashion, circularity, and the development of innovative textile materials and processes.

Drawing on more than a decade of teaching and research experience, Dr Taylor combines academic expertise with industry-focused innovation. Her work includes collaborative projects through the Future Fashion Factory and Innovate UK, as well as research into microplastic pollution that has contributed to the development of industry standards for reducing microfibre shedding.

Dr. Mark Taylor

Lecturer in Performance Clothing

Dr Mark Taylor is a specialist in performance and protective apparel, with expertise spanning sustainability, waterproof technologies, impact protection and technical product development. His research focuses on commercially relevant innovation, including recyclable waterproof membranes, microfibre reduction and sustainable alternatives to water-repellent chemical treatments.

Working closely with organisations including INDITEX and the European Outdoor Group, Dr Taylor combines academic research with industry application to support innovation across the apparel and outdoor sectors. His work has been recognised through the Innovative Smart Grant and the Journal of the Textile Institute Best Research Article Award (2021).

Dr. Muriel Rigout

Associate Professor in Textile Printing and Design

Dr Muriel Rigout specialises in textile printing, colour science and textile chemistry, with expertise in digital print technologies, textile colouration and sustainable textile processing. Her work combines scientific research with commercial textile innovation, including advanced surface effects, functional finishes and security ink technology.

Through international research collaborations and industry engagement, Dr Rigout supports the development of commercially relevant innovation across textile design and manufacturing. She is also an active contributor to the wider textile sector through her involvement with the Society of Dyers and Colourists and international research journals.