Educational Media Reviews Online

This series of three 20 minute segments (each on a separate DVD) is an exceptional introduction to the properties of and ethical issues surrounding the use of particular textiles.

The first segment, Natural Fibers, discusses the properties of animal, vegetable, and mineral fibers. Examples of the three fiber sources include gold, silver and aluminum; wool and silk; and flax stem linen. The film shows how to distinguish between the three types of fibers with a burn test, and how each one is commonly used. It identifies questions that should be asked at the textile design stage: How strong is the fiber? Should it be resistant to heat?

The second segment, Yarn Construction and Specialist Yarns, is the most colorful in its depiction of how different kinds of yarn are produced, and how they are used. Drawn from a variety of animal hair, plant fibers, minerals, or synthetic fibers, the staple fibers are spun into yarn, making them strong and ideal for weaving.

The final segment, Environmental, Social, and Economic Issues in Textiles, focuses on cotton, which comprises half of the global production of fibers. The need for heavy artificial irrigation however, contributes to environmental damage, most notably the receding of the Aral sea in Uzbekistan, leaving a toxic desert. Cotton is also susceptible to insects, and requires a lot of damaging pesticides. The segment concludes with environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional cotton growing.

Each segment offers bulleted summaries of short sections, making the series ideal for students taking notes. With its upbeat pacing and background music, and excellent visual depictions of every stage of textile production (growth, processing, and finished product), Talking Textiles is a solid overview of textile production that should appeal to students of fashion design, and possibly economics or environmental studies.