Textiles: Professional and Trade
This guide brings together key resources to help you find information relating to Textiles courses.
Image Credit: BCU Assets
Valuable sources of information for your subject can be:
There are some examples below but you will find others, some will include library subscriptions and some are freely available online.
Remember to evaluate information you find online and assess credibility, for help see our online course: Navigating the Library. You should also explore books, academic journals and articles to support your research.
Professional Organisations
- Dress and Textile SpecialistsLinks and support for professionals in the United Kingdom and Ireland working with specialist collections of fashion, dress and textiles.
- The Costume SocietyPromoting the study of all aspects of clothing and textiles, the Society aims to encourage access to costume history, including contemporary dress.
- The Textile InstituteThe professional body for people and organisations working in textile, clothing and footwear.
- The Textile SocietyThe study of textile disciplines and celebrates the history and culture of textiles, both traditional and contemporary.
- The Textile Society of AmericaAn international forum for the exchange and dissemination of information about textiles worldwide.
- UK Fashion and Textile AssociationThe largest network for fashion and textile companies in the UK. Representing fashion and textile supply chain from spinning, weaving and knitting.
Trade Associations
- American Apparel and Footwear AssociationRepresents more than 1,000 world famous name brands.
- Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing IndustryCovers all key sectors of the industry.
- British Footwear AssociationProvides support, resources, training and guidance to their members. The BFA’s mission is to promote and celebrate British footwear, and the British footwear industry globally.
- Directory of Design ConsultantsCovers all areas of design, worldwide.
- In the Industry we wantMeasures the state of affairs of the garment and footwear industry for shared accountability and transparency.
Textile Societies and News
- Centre for the History of Retailing and DistributionFor the study of the history of retailing and distribution.
- iTEXTILISA global forum for those interested in natural and cultural history from a textile perspective.
- Just StyleOnline news, insight and research portal for the apparel and textile industry.
- Muschelseide: Project Sea SilkHistory of using sea silk for textiles.
- Surface Design AssociationPromote the awareness and appreciation of textile-inspired art and design.
- Textile CuratorShowcases contemporary textile artists from around the world.
- The Weave ShedA professional weavers website.