On Friday 23rd January, Niall Maplesden from The Knowledge Nexus delivered an engaging and insightful session on Fabric to Fibre to the current cohort of NEXT apprentices online.
Drawing on decades of hands-on industry experience, Niall demystified the full journey of a fabric, from the earliest raw material choices to the finishing processes that determine final product quality.
Key Topics Covered:
- Why fabric performance starts long before production begins. Niall explained how fibre type, quality, and sourcing influence everything from durability to sustainability credentials.
- The spinning process that transforms fibres into yarn and how variations in spinning techniques directly affect handle, strength, elasticity, and long-term wear.
- The fundamental differences between knitted and woven structures, how each behaves in production and wear, and how to make informed choices for product development.
- And how colouration and print processes affect appearance, performance, shrinkage, and sustainability.
Lan Leeder, FTA Head of Education, said: “Thank you Niall, for the information session on fabric to fibre, it was a very engaging and informative session- thank you! ”