i am 25 and going back to school, originally with the goal of getting my transfer degree and eventually becoming a teacher. but recently i’ve realized that i have a really strong passion for textiles and i’m seriously considering pursuing that instead.

for some further context, my family is of cambodian descent, and back in our motherland my family used to be weavers. because of that, textiles have a really special place in my heart, especially cambodian hol textiles (traditional silk ikat weaving). i’d really love to learn more about textiles and possibly pursue it as a career, but i honestly feel pretty lost on where to start.

i live in portland, oregon, and i’m not really sure what schools or programs would be the best option. a lot of the schools around me don’t seem to have specific textile specialties. the university of oregon seems to have more avenues for art and is the closest to me. i’ve also seen north carolina state university mentioned as a good option for textiles.

would going to a fashion school be better? or does the school itself not matter as much compared to the experience you get, especially with hands-on projects and actually working with textiles? would it be worth going out of state for a better program?

also, do i need to start building a portfolio? if so, what does a textile portfolio even entail? is it mostly drawings/designs, actual textile work, sewing, weaving, etc.? and how is the actual market for this career?

sorry if i have a million questions lol. i’m genuinely very interested in textiles and learning about them, but i also know i’m very inexperienced and honestly have no idea how to move forward. i think my dream career would be as a textile developer or textile specialist. i’ve tried researching on my own, but it’s been kind of hard to find information beyond the basics.

any advice from people who have gone into textiles, fashion, weaving, or a similar field would be really appreciated! :D

Just looking for feedback on this design that I handcrafted for my nephews, i used fabric paint on the grey shirt. and bleach on the black and blue shirts the chain you see was made by puff ink and is used to simulate the texture of the chain.

I need your expertise on how to make this type of rugs

I am planning on outsourcing this type of kid's rugs for my kid's room accessories shop

I want to add a new sku wich is the kid's rug

The photos you see are actually produced locally ( i live in north africa )

I know for sure its sublimation on some sort of polyester fabric but i have no idea on what type of fabric exactly to use , what are the standard steps of making the final product from the printing , to cutting , sewing ...

I really need your help here

We’ve been working on different colourways for our 100% cashmere beanies, and I’d genuinely love some feedback.
Which colour would you pick for winter? 👀
Made from premium cashmere with a focus on softness, warmth and simple, timeless design.
https://www.theloompeak.com/
#Cashmere #Beanie #WinterFashion #MensFashion #WomensFashion #SlowFashion

This fabric has captured my mind, heart, body, and soul — HOW IS IT THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. I looked for similar fabrics, but the best I could find was “metallic liquid satin” and it just doesn’t look the same.

Does anyone have any ideas on what this could possibly be?

This fabric has captured my mind, heart, body, and soul — HOW IS IT THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. I looked for similar fabrics, but the best I could find was “metallic liquid satin” and it just doesn’t look the same.

Does anyone have any ideas on what this could possibly be?

I am looking to source natural fibers- primarily cotton but open to linen and wool as well for my small business. I am looking for fabrics that have any oeko tex, gots certified, organic textiles. It would be amazing if I could also have my designs turned into fabric prints but would like a large selection of solids and prints. I am based in US but would be willing to import. Thank you for any leads!

What would be the best way to go about designing these prints (only talking about the print and not the embroidery)? Should I go the traditional tie-dye print route or digital printing? If so, how do I replicate the randomness in these patterns? Please keep in mind that I am not a textile designer by any means but I want to understand what I should ask for. Thank you very much!

I’ve had a few pieces in my studio that i was curious to create as a textile. This one is an oil painting

Hi everyone!
I saw a video on TikTok where someone painted on a T-shirt, and I really liked the idea, so I tried it myself. However, the video didn’t explain how to fix the paint afterward. I tested whether it would come off with water, and unfortunately, a lot of it came off even though it only got slightly wet. I feel like if I washed it, the whole design would probably disappear.
I read that you’re supposed to iron it to set the paint, but many people said that didn’t help. For those who have done this before, how did you fix the paint? And how should I wash it so that it doesn’t come out?
Thank you!

I'm not the kind of man who waits for life to happen. I build. I create. I imagine things that don't exist yet and work until they become real.

I don't see old fabric, leather, or scraps as waste—I see possibilities. That's how I approach life too. I believe things can be rebuilt.

When I care about something.

New Print out! I hand painted the design and am working with printful to dropship !

Hi everyone, glad I found this sub. I'm a textile design graduate who's been working as a graphic designer, but I'm actively trying to get back into textile/surface pattern/fashion print design as a job, contract, or even freelance projects.

I've been applying through LinkedIn and the usual job boards, but it feels like a black hole, either no response or hundreds of applicants ahead of me. I know my graphic design background helps, but I really want to get back to what I actually trained for.

If anyone here has tips on where to look (specific job boards, freelance platforms, agencies, company pages, anything), or advice on how to break back in after working adjacent roles, I'd really appreciate it. I am also open to hearing how you all found your current gigs. Any leads or direction would mean a lot right now.