Textiles surround us in our daily lives and we have the pleasure of being able to take them for granted as they are a comfort rather than a luxury in many cases.  It is interesting to take a moment and look around us and wonder if perhaps some of the textiles we rest upon, walk over and live amongst are often more well-traveled than we are?  The number of people involved in the process from start to finish (producing the fibre, forming the yarn, creating the fabric, constructing the end product, sales & marketing) is often numerous and vast, from the factory loom worker and process operators to the textile technologist and quality controller, plus so many in-between.  

Advancements in textile technology have resulted in textiles that are waterproof, fire resistant and anti-pill and it is comforting to know that there are textile technologists out there in the world who are working towards making textiles safer and more durable.  The changes apparent in the textile industry worldwide over recent decades have had both positive and negative implications for NZ textile manufacturers, financially and culturally.  As I write, free trade deals are being negotiated between China and NZ which will have implications for manufacturers and importers in both countries alike.

For many immigrants weighing up the benefits of moving to another country either for career or lifestyle enhancement, NZ just seems to tick all the boxes.

The upside to the steady decline of the textile industry in the UK over the last 15 years has meant highly qualified and experienced textile experts are now looking abroad for opportunities in other countries.  For many immigrants weighing up the benefits of moving to another country either for career or lifestyle enhancement, NZ just seems to tick all the boxes.  

Our increasingly international approach to recruitment here at Rag Trade has seen us place some excellent textile designers, engineers and range developers in roles which may have been hard to fill from the NZ employment pool at present.  Candidates from the UK, Germany, South Africa, US, India & Asia are arriving soon and bring with them unique skills in exchange for a new life here in NZ.  

There is also a strong contingent of NZ graduates each year who have similar skills gained from studying textile science and design in the tertiary institutions around the country.  These courses differ to the more commonly known clothing design degrees as their emphasis is less on fashion and more on science and other practical aspects.  Otago University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles (with the possibility of advancing into a Masters or PhD), focusing on research and analysis of structure, function and behavior of material textiles as well as covering manufacturing, marketing and distribution.  The Apparel & Textile Industry Training Organisation (ATITO) offers certificates in practical applications such as wool scouring, textile dying and industrial machine knitting.  Massey University offers a Bachelor course in Design with the option of majoring in Textiles.  

Now that winter is upon us it becomes even more evident how important textiles are both to the NZ economy and to our quality of life on a day-to-day basis.  It is nice to be able to snuggle up in a warm NZ made wool blanket on a cold night and by supporting NZ manufacturers we can ensure this privilege is made available to the generations succeeding us.