C2.1 Countries associated with specific textiles

 

 

Silk

Silk production originated in China and the country typically accounts for over half world’s silk. India is the second largest producer, but only produces approximately 12-14% of the world’s silk. Following India, there is a mix of small producing nations including Vietnam, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Iran, Romania, and Brazil.

 

Source:  http://chinaag.org/production/china-agriculture-crops/silk/

 

Cotton

At present, China is the largest cotton producing country, followed by India, USA, Pakistan, and Brazil to make the top five.  However,the largest exporters of raw cotton are the United States and Africa (Africa's share of the cotton trade has doubled since 1980; Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia).

 

Sources:  http://www.whichcountry.co/top-ten-cotton-producing-countries-in-the-world/#sthash.t9u6tJb3.dpuf;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton

 

Wool

Australia and New Zealand are the leading producer of wool.  China is the third-largest producer. Organic wool is becoming more and more popular, although it is very limited in supply.  Much of the organic wool comes from New Zealand and Australia. Since 1650, sheep and wool production have played an important part in CANADA's economy although production has decreased here over the years. Canadian wool has been marketed to China for a number of years and is well established there. 70% of Canadian wool production goes to China and the balance is marketed to the United States,India, Western Europe and domestic mills. 

 

Sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool; http://www.cansheep.ca/User/Docs/Resources/Wool_Manual_FinalV5.pdf

 

Acrylic Fabric

Production of acrylic fibers is centered in the Far East, Turkey, India, Mexico, and South America, including China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia, Brazil, and Turkey.  It was first developed in the mid-1940s.  It is manufactured as a filament, then cut into short staple lengths similar to wool hairs, and spun into yarn.  Strong and warm, acrylic fiber is often used for sweaters, tracksuits, socks, hats, and as linings for boots and gloves.

 

Sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylic_fiber; http://www.yarnsandfibers.com/preferredsupplier/spreports_fullstory.php?id=527; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylic_fiber

 

Synthetic & Non-woven Fabrics

Although the Canadian textile industry started with the manufacture of yarns and fabrics from natural fibres, currently the industry (located mainly in Quebec and Ontario) uses natural, artificial and manmade fibres and filaments.  The age of synthetics began in CANADA in 1925 with production of viscose rayon, often called artificial silk. In 1926 a plant in Quebec began to make acetate yarn. In 1942 the first nylon yarn was produced in Canada. INTERESTING FACT:  At the time, the height of WWII, nylon remained a well-kept secret; the first production was 45 denier yarn for weaving into parachute cloth. The first product made after the war was nylon hosiery yarn.  Polyester was introduced to Canada in the 1950s.  Canada rates with the leaders in the production and technical development of nonwoven fabrics, particularly in their use in geotextiles (eg, Asbestos fibres).

 

Sources:  https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/textiles-textiles.nsf/eng/Home;  http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/textile-industry/

 

 

Click here to view a short PowerPoint presentation on Slideshare which introduces students to the characteristics of common textiles.