Apparel Designing and Construction

Apparel Designing and Construction 3(1+2)

Lesson 7 : Elements of Design- Texture

Aspects of texture

There are three aspects of texture as follows:

1. Surface characteristics; surface being 2-dimensional and flat in nature, its characteristics are perceived by sliding the finger tips over it. The surface qualities involve surface contour (rough to smooth), surface friction (harsh to slippery) and thermal disposition (cool to warm). Few other terms used to describe textures on basis of Surface quality (2-D quality) include cracked, curly, delicate, embossed, feathery, fine, fuzzy, glazed, granular, hairy, metallic, porous, ribbed, satin, scaly, silky, uneven, velvety, etc.


2. Hand of the fabric; tactile qualities of a manipulated 3-dimensional substance are perceived by holding it in hand and by applying force in different directions. It comprises of flexibility (pliable to stiff), compressibility (soft to hard), extensibility (stretchy to non stretchy), resiliency (spring to limp) and density (compact to open). Few other terms used to describe textures on basis of hand (3-D quality) include airy, brittle, bulky, coarse, crisp, delicate, dense, even, fine, firm, flexible, fluffy, harsh, leathery, papery, perforated, porous, rigid, silky, solid, supple, thick, thin, tough, uneven, etc.


3. Visual qualities of surface and substance; depends upon reaction to light. Different textures, owing to their specific characteristics, react to light in distinct manner. A texture can react to either of following three ways:
   • admit
   • absorb
   • reflect

Most textures react in at least two ways while a few even react in all three ways. So the influence of each texture varies from each other. The types of texture on basis of their reaction to light can be classified as follows:

4. Transparent texture admits nearly all of the light; allows one to clearly distinguish objects and details through it.


5. Translucent texture admits sufficient light; allows one to identify incomprehensible silhouettes behind it but not enough to single out details.


6. Opaque textures admit little or no light; effect depends on whether they absorb the light or reflect it.

Few other terms used to describe textures on basis of reaction to light includes dull,glossy, iridescent, lustrous, matte, polished, sheer, shimmer, shiny, sparkling, etc.
The reaction of light is quite outstanding and different in case of pile fabrics because of the nap present in them which strongly manipulate light reaction; when the pile fibres lie in one direction and viewed from same direction, the surface looks lighter and shiny because of reflection of light; but if looked from opposite direction, it appears darker and rich in effect because of absorption of more light between the fibres.
The combination of surface, hand and visual characteristics involve response of the texture to body movement and behaviour of a texture in combination to other textures. It regulates use of selection of fabric for different components or layers of the outfit.