BSc Fashion Buying and Merchandising

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Fabric Structures & Colouration

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS22802
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 5
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by Department of Materials
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The programme unit is worth 10 credits, and comprises lectures, and laboratory classes covering woven and knitted structures and colour perception, communication and measurement.

Aims

This module imparts a basic knowledge of the mostly used woven and knitted fabric structures with their physical and mechanical properties, and the basics on colour measurement and colour communication for the fashion textiles industry.  The study of this module lays the foundation for students to understand more advanced topics in the textile and fashion industries.   

Learning outcomes

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Intellectual skills
  • Practical skills
  • Transferable skills and personal qualities

Teaching and learning methods

This unit makes use of a variety of learning and teaching processes including: lectures, problem-based learning, tutorials and laboratory classes. Blackboard will be used to present lecture notes and supporting materials for the unit. The lectures and tutorials/laboratory classes will work in parallel with each other to develop the theoretical subject knowledge and gain the ability to evaluate the importance and application of techniques.

 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Basic knowledge to be developed in woven and knitted fabric structures as well as in their influence on fabric appearance and fabric mechanical properties;  
  • Essential expertise in using textile CAD/CAM to be established that is required for the modern textile industry;
  • Strong awareness to be created regarding woven and knitted fabric structures and commercial manufacturing systems;
  • Knowledge on colour measurement tools to be established;
  • Understanding of colour theory and human perception of colour to be achieved together with knowledge in colour specification.

 

Contributing to developing A1, A2, A3, A4, A10, programme specification learning outcomes.

 

  • A1 have a good understanding of the chemical composition, physical microstructure, physical & chemical properties and processing requirements of fibres, supported by the necessary background science relating to the structure and properties of materials;
  • A2 have acquired a good knowledge of the basic engineering principles whereby fibres are used and converted into yarns, fabrics and finished products;
  • A3 have a good understanding of the mechanical behaviour of textile materials, including performance-related properties such as degradation, durability and wear;
  • A4 an understanding of the rationale for testing textile materials, and a good working knowledge of a wide range of physical & chemical test

Intellectual skills

  • Master the technical principles of weaving and knitting as well as the woven and knitted fabrics, and be able to communicate, to different degrees of effectiveness, with all practitioners (technical staff, fabric buyers, sales representatives and senior business managers) in the textile supply chain.

These contributes to developing B1, B2, B3, B4 and B6 in the programme specification learning outcomes, of which B1, B2, B3 and B4 are assessed:

 

  • B1 -be able to express mathematical and technological information with clarity, logic and accuracy;
  • B2 -problem-solving and decision making abilities using appropriate quantitative and qualitative skills including identifying, formulating and solving business and technical problems associated, in particular, with the fashion and textile industries;
  • B3 -an ability to exercise original thinking andthe ability to create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations pertaining to materials and their applications;
  • B4 -exercise original thinking in the analysis and evaluation of textile materials & structures, and their applications.

Practical skills

  • Ability and skills to design, manufacture and apply woven and knitted fabrics for fashion and technical applications;
  • Use of CAD in fabric design and manufacturing process;
  • Ability and skills in colour measurement of textile products.

 

Contributing to developing C3, C10 programme specification learning outcomes.

 

  • C3 safely use appropriate manufacturing (knitting, weaving, spinning)  systems to produce textile structures;
  • C10 an ability to identify and employ appropriate sources of information.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Manage resources and time (including working to deadlines);
  • Work independently and be self-reliant;
  • Assess the relevance and the importance of the ideas of others.

 

Contributing to developing D3, D6, D11 programme specification learning outcomes.

  • D3 an ability to solve problems;
  • D6 effective self-management in terms of time, resources, planning and behaviour motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise;
  • D11 critical awareness the ability to analyse information and experiences, formulate independent judgements and articulate reasoned arguments through reflection, review and evaluation; formulate reasoned responses to the critical judgements of others; identify personal strengths and needs.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 100%

Feedback methods

Feedback given written and verbally.

 

Recommended reading

Woven fabrics

Doris Goerner, Woven Structure and Design, Part 1 Single Cloth Construction

Z Grosicki, Watson’s Textile Design and Colour

X Chen, Chapter 8: Interwoven fabrics and their applications, in Specialist yarn and fabric structures

 

Knitted fabrics

Knitting technology a comprehensive handbook and practical guide, David J Spencer, Woodhead Publishing, Ltd.; 3 edition (18 Aug 2010)

Handbook of Technical Textiles - A R Horrocks and Subhash C. Anand, Woodhead Publishing, Ltd. (24 Jun 2011)

 

Textile coloration

Arthur D Broadbent, Basic principles of textile coloration, 2001.

Gary Waldman, Introduction to light: the physics of light, vision, and color, 2002.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 12
Independent study hours
Independent study 88

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Xiaogang Chen Unit coordinator

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