CAREER PROFILE CLOTHING ALTERATION HAND - Skillset

Textile technologists
are concerned with the
scientific make-up of
fabrics. They may work in
production, quality control,
sourcing or research and
development teams.
What does a textile
technologist do
Textile technologists often work
in-house for clothing companies,
conducting research and sourcing
fabrics to meet a brief. They may
also support the buying, marketing
and sales teams within the company.
Duties will include sourcing
fabrics that are fit for purpose,
conducting quality control tests for
properties such as crease resistance.
Experimenting with dyeing or
production processes and liaising
with suppliers to get the right fabric
at the right price.
Textile technologists often work in
a supervisory or management
capacity, overseeing the running
of a team of people.
The salary of a fabric technologist
Starting salary is usually around
£21,000 a year. This will increase to
between £25,000 and £35,000 a
year with experience. A research and
development textile technologist or
those with management duties may
earn up to £45,000 a year.
Hours and working environment
Textile technologists usually work
around 40 hours a week. Early
morning or late night work may be
required when liaising with overseas
suppliers or overseeing production
runs. Travel within the UK and
overseas may also be required.
Textile technologists are usually
based in an office within the
production facility. They will also
spend much of their time in a
laboratory environment when
conducting fabric testing.
Skills and interests
It may be useful for someone
considering a career as a textile
technologist to have some of the
following skills and interests:
* able to lead a team and
prioritise workloads
*
*
*
have excellent communication
and organisation skills
be knowledgeable of production
processes and textile fabrics
interested in solving problems and
experimenting with new ideas
Entry into a career in
textile technology
Most employers in this area will
expect candidates to have a degree
or a HND in a relevant subject, such
as chemistry, physics, maths, textile
science or textile management.
There are a wide variety of courses
available at this level, for more
information, visit the UCAS website:
www.ucas.co.uk
Promotion without degree from a
relevant position, such as a textile
technician, may also be possible.
Further training to develop a
career in textile technology
Further training is usually carried
out on the job under the supervision
of more experienced colleagues.
Large companies may also offer
management training schemes
for their textile technologists.
The Textile Institute offers a range
of qualifications for those working in
this area. For more information on
these, visit the website: www.texi.org
Opportunities in the field of
textile technology
With experience, it is possible for a
textile technologist to take on wider
responsibilities within technical
management, production and
quality control.
Those with the relevant skills and
experience may also be able to
work on a self-employed basis,
providing consultations for a
variety of different companies.
Case study
Cheryl Murray has
worked for Simon Jersey,
a leading corporate and
workwear specialist
based near Accrington,
for two years as a textile
technologist. Cheryl
has twenty four years
experience in the job for
a number of companies.
Cheryl completed an
Associateship of the Textile
Institute that gave her a
good understanding of the
scientific make-up of fibres
and the processes they go
through to become finished
fabrics. Cheryl says “The
course gave me a great
base but you can’t fully
appreciate fabrics and
the processes they go
through until you are
working in industry.”
A large part of Cheryl’s
job is ensuring fabrics are
fit for purpose, this is
especially important when
producing workwear.
Cheryl adds “Consistency
of quality and knowledge
of fabrics is imperative for
corporate wear so a good
eye for detail, listening
to the customer and the
designer are essential
parts of my job.”
Cheryl really enjoys her job
and loves watching fabrics
come alive when being
made in to a garment.
Cheryl adds “My job is really
exciting and there are many
opportunities, particularly
overseas, for young people
coming through.”
For more information visit
www.skillfast-uk.org/generationf