Fashion Resources: Fabric, Textiles & Fabric Sourcing: Internet Resources

The Museum's Textile and Fashion Arts Collection features more than 27,000 items from American, European, and non-Western cultures and many historical periods. Over 6,600 pieces are digitized.

A British campaign launched in 2010 designed to support and promote the wool industry. The website highlights events, designers and many aspects of the wool industry throughout the world.

"Since its inception in 2005 the CTR has focused strongly on textile history and archaeology via substantial research programmes, as well as via research training of young scholars and a variety of activities connected with textile history involving universities, museums and design schools. "

Colouring the Nation is collaborative project run by the University of Edinburgh and the National Museums Scotland. "The project is investigating the cultural and global impact of Scotland’s decorative textile industry, with the Turkey red industry as a primary interest." Visitors can follow links to vibrant images from early sample books.

This PDF glossary by Celanese Acetate LLC, is over 200 pages and offers detailed definitions for fibers and fiber-related processes as well as black and white illustrations.

The website of this global organization provides a wealth of information on the manufacture, production and sale of cotton. The website includes access to the Cotton Textile Encyclopedia which briefly defines many textile manufacturing terms and the Cotton Campus with activities and information for students. For fabric and textile sourcing directories click on the Product tab.

"Cotton Incorporated’s CottonWorks program is an industry resource as a professional or emerging professional in the apparel and textile industry. Develop expertise for every stage of the product development and marketing process by diving into our comprehensive resource with data and research, market and trend analysis, timely webinars, and informative videos."

The European Textile Network (ETN) is a nonprofit network of textile artists, cultural heritage institutions and educational institutions with the aim to "develop European co-operation in the field of textile culture." Visitors to the site will be interested in the European Textile Routes, which provides a large network of links (with brief descriptions) to European textile institutions and events both thematically and geographically.

This site provides general information about fibers including a brief fiber history page, fiber producers and trademarks, characteristics of textile fibers, a dictionary of fabric terms, fabric care tips, fiber identification through burn test instructions and consumer alert/fabric recalls. It also provides brief descriptions of 150 high performance products listed alphabetically.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres worldwide. It defines high level environmental criteria along the entire supply chain of organic textiles and requires compliance with social criteria as well. Visitors to the site may download the current GOTS certification standards. Visitors may also search the public database for suppliers of GOTS certified textiles and products.

Costumes and Textiles is a Digital Interactive Gallery (DIG) presented by the Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington. These galleries are "experimental, web-based introductions to specific mediums, subjects, and issues in art and design, all illustrated with images of objects in the Henry's collection."The Costumes and Textiles series provides several ways to explore this area of museum collecting. For example, explore how garments reflect identity, fashion or specific occasions in the wearers' lives. In the textile section, view examples by structure or by type of embellishment. Finally, explore the global connections of Henry Art Gallery objects using Google Earth.

"The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a unique association representing the entire spectrum of the textile industry. NCTO is the voice of the U.S. textile industry." The council lobbies for U.S. policies regarding the textile industry and provides statistical information on the industry.

"The On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics contains material on weaving, basketry, lace, and related subjects. The documents on this site come from a variety of sources. Most are digital facsimilies of paper documents created by scanning or, in some cases, digital photography. Some documents were written for online publication. Other documents were obtained from the Web and other sources."

The Powerhouse Museum is a technology and design museum that provides a wealth of information related to textiles and fashion. Search the museum's collection by keyword such as 'fashion' or 'dress' or by organized "sets," such as Annette Kellerman costume collection or the Berlei Underwear collection and archive.

Created in 2008, the Scottish Register of Tartans is a database of tartans intended to protect, promote and preserve tartan designs. Visitors may search the register, by tartan name or colors, to find information about thousands of tartans. They can also access information on resources in the National Records of Scotland for the study of tartan history.

Technical Textiles Net provides a directory/glossary of brands, materials and textile applications as well as brief news bites. It also hosts a discussion group on topics related to the production, manufacture and use of industrial and high performance textiles.

This blog features a nice list with accompanying articles on many important, historical textile designers.

Although quite old (1942) this book "provided generations of textile students with definitive images of fibers at high magnification. It is an indispensable aid in properly identifying textile objects. It remains popular among ethnobotanists, textile conservators, microscopists, anthropologists, and archaeologists in photocopy form. The Textile Fiber Atlas remains a classic reference in textiles research."

This Textile Industry Affairs sponsored website gives consumers, educators and apparel industry professionals information about textile care labels.

Published by the India Office of the British Government in 1866, this 18 volume set of fabric sample books has been digitized, proving textile students with both history and inspiration.

It is the mission of "The Textile Museum to expand public knowledge and appreciation—locally, nationally, and internationally—of the artistic merits and cultural importance of the world’s textiles."

This website serves as a "directory designed specifically for members of the clothing & fashion accessories industry." The page provides links to wholesale fabric sourcers.

The website of this global organization provides a wealth of information on the manufacture, production and sale of cotton. The website includes access to the Cotton Textile Encyclopedia which briefly defines many textile manufacturing terms and the Cotton Campus with activities and information for students. For fabric and textile sourcing directories click on the Product tab.

"Digifair is a digital platform created to suit your needs in fabrics and materials according to your exact description. Buyers announce their needs and gather a range of possible suppliers from every part of the world.It is simple: buyers say what they want – specifying size, product type, color, and pattern – and our algorithm finds supplier who suit them.This system is set to empower fashion creatives, from beginners to experts, by allowing them to request and get exactly what they want.We are not a catalog, we are a free wish list made to provide you with quality, pricing, and easy delivery options.Let us take care of the complicated part so that you can focus on what really matters – designing your next fashion collection."

Fashion Positive offers a database of Cradle-to-Cradle certified suppliers of "yarns, dyes, fabrics, zippers, trims, finishing, and more—creating a growing collective of "positive" materials with which to design from the beginning." In addition, visitors may view educational webinars and review the "Fashion Positive Critical Materials List," a list high-priority, critical materials needed for circular fashion.

"Apparel industry publishers and consultants specializing in sourcing, design, production, and sustainable fashion information since 1992."

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres worldwide. It defines high level environmental criteria along the entire supply chain of organic textiles and requires compliance with social criteria as well. Visitors to the site may download the current GOTS certification standards. Visitors may also search the public database for suppliers of GOTS certified textiles and products.

This website provides sustainable fabric sourcing and services from a network of suppliers. Visitors may "search through a comprehensive and curated selection of materials and services, review technical and sustainability specs, calculate lead and ship times, connect with suppliers, and source swatches, yardage and products." Membership is free. A site blog also provides updates on eco-fashion internships, jobs, conferences and news.

Based in The Netherlands, Materia "functions as a platform between the creative professional and the manufacturer" in architectural and interior design. The website provides visitors with access to Materia's database of innovative architectural and design materials, which may be searched by keyword, technical or 'sensorial' qualities. Registration is required but free. Visitors may wish to search under terms such as 'fabric', 'fiber' or 'fashion' for interesting results.

SwatchOn is a fabric marketplace for fashion designers. It supply swatch samples based on easily searchable criteria and sells whoiesale fabrics with no minimum orders.

Textile Exchange is a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to expanding the organic/sustainable textiles market. While membership is required for access to some features of the site, viewers may access the Marketplace database to search for member companies and suppliers, download the monthly newsletter, and access a number of educational materials through the Learning Zone and Farm Library sections including audio and videos.

The Textile Source site offers an International Textile Sourcing Directory searchable by company, textile type or country.

WeConnectFashion is a fashion marketplace intelligence service for connecting retailers, brands and suppliers. It features online product, service and supplier directories. Brief articles provide trend information and career tips.