TEXTILE DESIGNERS

INTRODUCTION

Textiles and yarns are of many kinds and are used for making garments, furnishings, carpets, towels, lace, net, embroidery, etc. Fabrics may be woven, knitted or printed. Designers specialise in designing fabric for men's suit, ladies' dress or furnishing fabrics. Textile designing is a very technical subject today as it uses a combination of methods. The Indian textile designer today has become prominent in the world market as he has skillfully blended the traditional textures, dyes and the modern market needs. Creative ability and good technical knowledge is essential. The textile designer must have knowledge of yarn making, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing processes, including the knowledge of different types of looms, knitting machines, printing processes including block, stencil, roller and silk-screens.
Textile designing has emerged as a challenge for the fashion industry specialists. This designing concept deals with creating designs for textiles for the apparel and furnishing sectors. It covers both surface design and structural design. Students are equipped to handle textile or embroidery designs, prints, weaves, styles and textures.

NATURE OF WORK

Textile designing is concerned primarily with fabrics. Textile designers are trained in fabric printing, dyeing, embroidery and design development. There are design developers, colour specialists, hand painters and printing supervisors.
Textile designers study and know the history of textile fibers and have the expertise in various methods of textile decoration. They have technical knowledge of how textile looms operate and how yarns of different types can be blended. Textile designers use their basic knowledge about the properties and qualities of textiles before they turn their design ideas to reality.
Textile designing involves design research. This involves an understanding of what the customer requires and which designs are likely to sell. Fashion and design trends are important and so are popular colours, yarns etc. Trends in the trade have to be forecasted since a product may take a year sometime to reach the market. Having studied current trends of fashion, designers apply their creativity to produce designs to suit the market. Rough sketches are used to outline basic ideas. The designer takes into consideration the use the fabric, its durability, weight, texture, etc. Sketches are transferred to Bailed technical specifications, to be put on machines, looms or printing, tables. The specific construction of designs is presented on graph paper or through CAD (computer aided design) systems,
Technical translations are used to produce samples of cloth. The designer works in liaison with technicians and technologists, making necessary adjustments to the designs. The design manager and sales and marketing staff selects samples from the range for the market. It is important for textile designers to keep abreast with the market through trade fairs and by visiting clients. Effective presentation of their work determines the overall success of the design or the designer. Designers may be involved in adaptations and modifications relating to the colour or price, after designs are sold.
WORK ENVIRONMENT

Textile designers work with colours, dyes and varied materials while designing. Long hours of work while creating samples and designs is spent in the design studio. Textile designers often study fashion trends, textile history and design concepts before working on new designs. This requires working in libraries, visit to special regions and areas and hence involves considerable travel.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

In depth knowledge of colour concepts, colour preferences, a good hand in drawing and illustration, creative imagination and creative talent are required by textile designers. The job requires long hours of work hence hardworking attitude is required. Designers should be fashion conscious and should also be able to anticipate customers’ requirements. Technical knowledge is a prerequisite. Designers need the ability to communicate effectively and should he able to persuade and influence people, since the work is as much concerned with selling as with creativity.

EMPLOYMENT AVENUES
Textile designers can work as colour specialists to predict or forecast choice of colours and colour mixes. Job opportunities exist in design studios, better textile mills, export houses, in textile dyeing and printing units as well as in fashion garment houses and export units. Designers who are familiar with computers have employment prospects. Designers can freelance on assignments for both government and private firms. Professional enterpreneurship is yet another option. Textile designers have scope for employment with textile manufacturing industries. They also work with cottage industries, small-scale industries and as enterpreneurs. With a growing market for exports of textiles, textile designers find employment with export houses as well as large scale industries catering to the national and international markets. Many textile designers work as free lancers offering their designs to different industries.

EARNINGS

Textile designers from reputed design schools earn more than Rs. 12,000 per month others may begin at Rs. 6000.

STUDY/TRAINING

Vocational courses are provided at Polytechnics and Vocational Training Colleges in most large cities in the country. Students after 10+2 with any stream can take these courses. For a degree course in Textiles, a student after B.Sc Home Science can pursue an M.Sc course in Textile designing. Fashion Institutes such as NIFT, and Women's Polytechnic offer certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses in textile designing. National Institute of Design offers school leavers and advanced courses in textile designing. Entry to polytechnics is based on merit while fashion schools generally take an entrance test. Course duration may range from one to three years while the cost is between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000. Some vocational training institutes offer less expensive courses.

COURSES/INSTITUTIONS

Premier Institutes
National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Campus, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016
Course - Computer Aided Textile Designing {30 seats), Duration - 1 year,
Eligibility-10+2
National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad 380007
Courses
School leavers Industrial Design Course (Specialization Textiles).
Duration - 4 Years. Eligibility- 10+2 or its equivalent.
Advertisement - October. Tests - January Interview: May.
Advanced entry professional education programme in Textile Design.
Duration: 3 years
Eligibility - Graduates in Fine Arts, Home Science [Clothing & Textiles] Humanities, or diploma holders who have qualified from Polytechnic with related specialisation or candidates with atleast 2 year's professional experience in textiles.
Advertisement - January. Test; May

Other Institutes
Academy of Fashion Studies, B-37, Gangotri Enclave , Alaknanda, New Delhi-110019
Course - Textile - CAD Duration - 3-6 Months, Eligibility-11th
National Institute of Fashion Design, Hauz Khas, South Delhi Campus, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-110016
Course-Textile Design Duration -1-2 Years, Eligibility-10 + 2
Lisa Institute of fashion (P) Ltd., J-l/124, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110027.Website - www.lisa-institute.com
Course - Textile Design Duration - 3 Months -1 Years, Eligibility-10 + 2
UP Cooperative Spinning Mills Federation Limited, B-2, Sarvodaya Nagar, Kanpur 208005 offers one-year correspondence courses in Textile Technology. Postgraduate diploma for graduates, Diploma for 10+2 and Certificate Course for Class X students. The UP Cooperative Spinning Mills, a conglomerate of 11 mills has a turnover of Rs. 200 Crores and offers job openings.

Textiles and yarns are of many kinds and are used for making garments, furnishings, carpets, towels, lace, net, embroidery, etc. Fabrics may be woven, knitted or printed. Designers specialise in designing fabric for men's suit, ladies' dress or furnishing fabrics. Textile designing is a very technical subject today as it uses a combination of methods. The Indian textile designer today has become prominent in the world market as he has skillfully blended the traditional textures, dyes and the modern market needs. Creative ability and good technical knowledge is essential. The textile designer must have knowledge of yarn making, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing processes, including the knowledge of different types of looms, knitting machines, printing processes including block, stencil, roller and silk-screens.

Textile designing has emerged as a challenge for the fashion industry specialists. This designing concept deals with creating designs for textiles for the apparel and furnishing sectors. It covers both surface design and structural design. Students are equipped to handle textile or embroidery designs, prints, weaves, styles and textures.

nature of work

Textile designing is concerned primarily with fabrics. Textile designers are trained in fabric printing, dyeing, embroidery and design development. There are design developers, colour specialists, hand painters and printing supervisors.

Textile designers study and know the history of textile fibers and have the expertise in various methods of textile decoration. They have technical knowledge of how textile looms operate and how yarns of different types can be blended. Textile designers use their basic knowledge about the properties and qualities of textiles before they turn their design ideas to reality.

Textile designing involves design research. This involves an understanding of what the customer requires and which designs are likely to sell. Fashion and design trends are important and so are popular colours, yarns etc. Trends in the trade have to be forecasted since a product may take a year sometime to reach the market. Having studied current trends of fashion, designers apply their creativity to produce designs to suit the market. Rough sketches are used to outline basic ideas. The designer takes into consideration the use the fabric, its durability, weight, texture, etc. Sketches are transferred to Bailed technical specifications, to be put on machines, looms or printing, tables. The specific construction of designs is presented on graph paper or through CAD (computer aided design) systems,

Technical translations are used to produce samples of cloth. The designer works in liaison with technicians and technologists, making necessary adjustments to the designs. The design manager and sales and marketing staff selects samples from the range for the market. It is important for textile designers to keep abreast with the market through trade fairs and by visiting clients. Effective presentation of their work determines the overall success of the design or the designer. Designers may be involved in adaptations and modifications relating to the colour or price, after designs are sold.

work environment

Textile designers work with colours, dyes and varied materials while designing. Long hours of work while creating samples and designs is spent in the design studio. Textile designers often study fashion trends, textile history and design concepts before working on new designs. This requires working in libraries, visit to special regions and areas and hence involves considerable travel.

personal characteristics

In depth knowledge of colour concepts, colour preferences, a good hand in drawing and illustration, creative imagination and creative talent are required by textile designers. The job requires long hours of work hence hardworking attitude is required. Designers should be fashion conscious and should also be able to anticipate customers’ requirements. Technical knowledge is a prerequisite. Designers need the ability to communicate effectively and should he able to persuade and influence people, since the work is as much concerned with selling as with creativity.

employment avenues

Textile designers can work as colour specialists to predict or forecast choice of colours and colour mixes. Job opportunities exist in design studios, better textile mills, export houses, in textile dyeing and printing units as well as in fashion garment houses and export units. Designers who are familiar with computers have employment prospects. Designers can freelance on assignments for both government and private firms. Professional enterpreneurship is yet another option. Textile designers have scope for employment with textile manufacturing industries. They also work with cottage industries, small-scale industries and as enterpreneurs. With a growing market for exports of textiles, textile designers find employment with export houses as well as large scale industries catering to the national and international markets. Many textile designers work as free lancers offering their designs to different industries.

Earnings

Textile designers from reputed design schools earn more than Rs. 12,000 per month others may begin at Rs. 6000.

study/training

Vocational courses are provided at Polytechnics and Vocational Training Colleges in most large cities in the country. Students after 10+2 with any stream can take these courses. For a degree course in Textiles, a student after B.Sc Home Science can pursue an M.Sc course in Textile designing. Fashion Institutes such as NIFT, and Women's Polytechnic offer certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses in textile designing. National Institute of Design offers school leavers and advanced courses in textile designing. Entry to polytechnics is based on merit while fashion schools generally take an entrance test. Course duration may range from one to three years while the cost is between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000. Some vocational training institutes offer less expensive courses.

courses/institutions

Premier Institutes

National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Campus, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016

Course - Computer Aided Textile Designing {30 seats), Duration - 1 year,

Eligibility-10+2

National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad 380007

Courses

School leavers Industrial Design Course (Specialization Textiles).

Duration - 4 Years. Eligibility- 10+2 or its equivalent.

Advertisement - October. Tests - January Interview: May.

Advanced entry professional education programme in Textile Design.

Duration: 3 years

Eligibility - Graduates in Fine Arts, Home Science [Clothing & Textiles] Humanities, or diploma holders who have qualified from Polytechnic with related specialisation or candidates with atleast 2 year's professional experience in textiles.

Advertisement - January. Test; May

Other Institutes

Academy of Fashion Studies, B-37, Gangotri Enclave , Alaknanda, New Delhi-110019

Course - Textile - CAD Duration - 3-6 Months, Eligibility-11th

National Institute of Fashion Design, Hauz Khas, South Delhi Campus, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-110016

Course-Textile Design Duration -1-2 Years, Eligibility-10 + 2

Lisa Institute of fashion (P) Ltd., J-l/124, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110027.Website - www.lisa-institute.com

Course - Textile Design Duration - 3 Months -1 Years, Eligibility-10 + 2

UP Cooperative Spinning Mills Federation Limited, B-2, Sarvodaya Nagar, Kanpur 208005 offers one-year correspondence courses in Textile Technology. Postgraduate diploma for graduates, Diploma for 10+2 and Certificate Course for Class X students. The UP Cooperative Spinning Mills, a conglomerate of 11 mills has a turnover of Rs. 200 Crores and offers job openings.