FUTURE THREADS - CAREERS IN WEAVING & TAILORING

Description

Part of the FUTURE THREADS series from Textiles Skills Centre, this resource explores the exciting world of Woven Textiles and Tailoring through industry insight, creative practice, and real career pathways.

FUTURE THREADS is a series of career-led digital resources for textiles education, funded by All Saints Educational Trust and Merchant Taylors’ Foundation, with support from leading industry and education partners.

Designed for secondary classrooms, these engaging, curriculum-aligned video lessons bring textiles to life through real-world case studies, contemporary applications, and inspiring interviews with professionals working within the industry.

WEAVING & TAILORING: From Fibre to Fashion explores two connected sectors of the textiles industry, following the journey from the creation of woven fabrics through to the construction of finished garments.

This WEAVING & TAILORING resource helps students discover how woven fabrics are transformed into high-quality garments, exploring the journey from textile manufacturing through to bespoke tailoring. Students will gain an understanding of weaving processes, fabric production, craftsmanship, garment construction, sustainability, and the wide range of career opportunities available across the textiles and fashion industries.

Supporting teachers with downloadable tasks, information sheets, and industry-informed content, the resource connects classroom learning directly to real-world applications, future pathways, and the skills shaping the modern textiles sector.

RESOURCE CONTENT:

This resource explores the fascinating journey of textiles from woven fabric production through to bespoke tailoring, helping students understand how traditional craftsmanship and modern manufacturing combine to create high-quality garments. Designed to support GCSE Design & Technology and Art & Design, the resource brings the textile industry to life through engaging video interviews, factory and workshop insights, information sheets, and creative tasks. Students will discover the processes, skills, technologies, and career opportunities involved in weaving, cloth production, garment construction, and bespoke tailoring.

AIMS OF THIS RESOURCE:

THE RESOURCE INCLUDES:

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Exploring the journey from fibre to fabric and the variety of skills and jobs the industry offers.

CAREERS :
Understanding careers, training pathways, and progression opportunities within the sector. Exploring careers and opportunities within textile manufacturing and weaving.

SKILLS:
Behind the scenes of fabric production, garment construction, bespoke tailoring, specialist craftsmanship, quality control, and innovation.

SUSTAINABILITY:
Discover how the weaving and tailoring industries are embedding sustainable and ethical practices through responsible sourcing, reducing waste, quality craftsmanship and creating products designed to last.

HEALTH & SAFETY (INCLUDING SHEQ & COSHH):
See how Health & Safety and COSHH are an essential part of the job, ensuring people, materials and equipment are used safely while maintaining high standards in professional weaving and tailoring workplaces.

CREATIVE TASKS & INFORMATION SHEETS:
Downloadable guides, classroom activities, sustainability, H&S and supporting resources linked to weaving, tailoring, textile production, and career exploration.

COURSE DEVELOPER: Dawn Foxall - BA (Hons) Knitwear Design; MA Music Performance

Dawn Foxall is the Founder and Chair of the Textiles Skills Centre (TSC) and has over 35 years' experience working across both the textiles industry and education. After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Knitwear from Nottingham Trent University, she built a successful career in fashion setting up the brand Cocky's Shed with 2 Print designers where they developed collections shown at major fashion events, selling across Europe, Australia and USA.

Bringing together experience from both industry and education, Dawn became Head of Fashion & Textiles at a Further Education college before lecturing part time at Birmingham City University and consulting on textile industry projects. She also founded and managed a successful organic and Fairtrade clothing brand for ten years before establishing the Textiles Skills Centre in 2015. Today, she works with industry, universities, awarding organisations, and teachers to promote textiles education and inspire the next generation of textile professionals.

TSC has supported thousands of teachers and learners across the UK, and in recognition of this work, Founder Dawn Foxall received the Design & Technology Association and IET Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design & Technology Education in 2025.