Textile Raw Materials and Abbreviations of Common Textile Terms
Textiles and textile products are particularly important in today’s world, forming a vital part of many industries and businesses around the globe. This article provides an overview of some of the most commonly used and essential textile raw materials, as well as providing an explanation of the short forms and acronyms often used in the textile industry in relation to these materials.
The term ‘textile raw material’ refers to the materials that are used in the production of textiles and textile products, that is, fibres, yarns, fabrics and finishes. The raw materials are essential for the production of all textiles, whether they are used for apparel, home furnishings, upholstery, industrial applications or any other textile products.
Common raw materials used in the textile industry fall into four main categories:
Animal fibres: These include wool, alpaca, camel, angora and mohair, all of which are obtained from animals.
Plant fibres: These include cotton, linen and jute, all of which are obtained from plants.
Synthetic fibres: These include polyester, nylon, acetate and spandex, all of which are man-made fibres.
Man-made fibres: These include rayon and modal, which are regenerated natural fibres.
In addition to these fibres, other materials such as elastane, as well as finishes and coatings, are also essential for the production of textiles.
Now that we have a better understanding of the different types of textile raw materials, let’s take a look at some of the short forms and acronyms used in the industry.
Wool is often known as ‘W’ or ‘WO’, short for wool.
Alpaca is often known as ‘ALP’, short for Alpaca.
Camel is often known as ‘CAM’, short for Camel.
Angora is often known as ‘AGR’, short for Angora.
Mohair is often known as ‘MOH’, short for Mohair.
Cotton is often known as ‘COT’, short for Cotton.
Linen is often known as ‘LIN’, short for Linen.
Jute is often known as ‘JUT’, short for Jute.
Polyester is often known as ‘POL’, short for Polyester.
Nylon is often known as ‘NYL’, short for Nylon.
Acetate is often known as ‘ACE’, short for Acetate.
Spandex is often known as ‘SPX’, short for Spandex.
Rayon is often known as ‘RAY’, short for Rayon.
Modal is often known as ‘MDL’, short for Modal.
Elastane is often known as ‘ELA’, short for Elastane.
In addition to these shorthands, there are a number of other terms used in the industry. The term ‘yarn count’ is used to describe the number of yarns in a single strand of fabric. The term ‘weave’ is used to describe the way in which the yarns are interlaced. The term ‘finish’ refers to any treatments that are applied to the fabric to give it certain characteristics, such as a soft feel or a water-resistant surface.
The textile industry’s use of abbreviations and acronyms is an important part of the industry, helping to save time and simplify communication. However, it is important to remember that these terms are only shortcuts, and that it is important to be aware of the full names of the materials and products involved in order to fully understand any technical discussions about them.
