Clothing and textile technologist

Clothing and textile technologist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Employers of clothing and textile technologists include manufacturers of industrial textiles, small textile companies, retailers, research and development organisations and clothing manufacturers. Technologists work with a variety of materials including man-made and natural textiles, leather, fur, plastics and metals. They may be responsible for working on fabrics for furnishings, clothing, household items or medical supplies, or textiles for use within the automotive industry.

Responsibilities include:

• providing technical advice to/liaising with design, marketing, purchasing and production staff;
• creating products in response to given briefs;
• amending designs where necessary;
• producing samples;
• dyeing and printing textiles;
• evaluating, identifying and selecting fabrics/products from suppliers;
• ensuring that products meet set requirements and specifications (eg colour fastness, durability etc.);
• checking products for suitability and testing for performance under various conditions;
• controlling production and quality standards;
• problem solving;
• dealing with customer queries and complaints;
• keeping up-to-date with trends and innovations.

Competition for vacancies is moderate. Jobs are advertised by careers services and recruitment agencies, in national newspapers, and trade publications including Drapers Record, Textile Horizons, Knitting International, Wool Record, International Dyer, International Textiles and Apparel International.

Networking, job shadowing and speculative applications may be helpful, for which directories such as Kelly's, the British Clothing Industry Yearbook, the UK Fashion Handbook, Lanre Directory, International Fabric Directory and The Fashion Index can provide useful contact information.

Qualifications and training required

Suitable degree subjects for entry into the profession include: clothing and textile technology; materials and polymer sciences; mechanical, manufacturing and production engineering; physical, chemical and applied sciences; mathematics.

A postgraduate textiles/clothing qualification can be helpful for graduates from other relevant disciplines, as can industrial experience gained via vacation work, placements and final year projects or by working at a junior level.

Key skills for clothing and textile technologists

Key skills required include: creativity, fabric and materials knowledge and attributes such as commercial awareness and good team-working and interpersonal skills are highly valued.