How are textiles classified, and what are natural, synthetic and blended fibres used for?
Natural, synthetic and regenerated fibres and named examples, woven, knitted and non-woven fabric construction, and why fibres are blended.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Design and Technology content on textiles, covering natural, synthetic and regenerated fibres with named examples, woven, knitted and non-woven fabric construction, the properties of each, and why fibres are blended.
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What this topic is asking
WJEC's materials content includes textiles: the fibres and fabrics used across products and clothing. You need to classify fibres as natural, synthetic or regenerated, name examples, know the main fabric constructions, and explain why fibres are blended. This is core knowledge for Unit 1, and central to the Fashion and Textiles route.
Classifying fibres
Fabric construction
Why fibres are blended
Choosing a textile
The choice follows how the product is used: a comfortable everyday shirt blends cotton and polyester; a stretchy sports garment uses elastane in the blend; a warm jumper uses wool or acrylic; a strong, waterproof outdoor jacket uses nylon with a coating. Properties such as absorbency, warmth, stretch, strength and ease of care all guide the decision.
Try this
Q1. Classify cotton, polyester and viscose as natural, synthetic or regenerated. [3 marks]
- Cue. Cotton natural, polyester synthetic, viscose regenerated.
Q2. State why a woven fabric suits a pair of jeans. [1 mark]
- Cue. It is strong and stable and does not stretch much.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style4 marksCompare a natural fibre and a synthetic fibre for a sports T-shirt, giving an example of each.Show worked answer →
A four mark Compare question. Natural fibre, cotton: advantage, it is soft, breathable and absorbent, comfortable against the skin (1 mark); disadvantage, it holds sweat and dries slowly, becoming heavy and cold (1 mark). Synthetic fibre, polyester: advantage, it is strong, quick-drying and wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping the wearer dry (1 mark); disadvantage, it can feel less breathable and may hold odours (1 mark). The top answer notes that a sports T-shirt usually favours polyester (or a blend) for its quick-drying performance. Markers reward a balanced comparison with a named example each.
WJEC-style3 marksExplain why a cotton and polyester blend is used for school shirts.Show worked answer →
A three mark Explain question about blending. Blending combines the best properties of each fibre: cotton brings comfort, softness and breathability, while polyester brings strength, crease resistance and quick drying (1 mark each for two linked properties). The blend also reduces cost and ironing compared with pure cotton (1 mark). Markers reward the idea that blending mixes properties, with a property from each fibre. A common error is to name the fibres without saying what each contributes.
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