Tekstilist

Tekstilist is a professional who works with textiles, covering the design, production, and analysis of fabrics and textile products. The role can involve creative development of fabrics, technical design work, testing, and quality assurance across sectors such as fashion, interior textiles, and technical textiles.

Common specializations include textile designers who create patterns, colors, and textures; textile engineers who evaluate fiber properties, yarn structures, weaving or knitting processes, and finishing steps such as dyeing, printing, and coating; and technicians who operate machinery, perform fabric testing, and support production operations.

Education and training vary by country but often include vocational programs, apprenticeships, or bachelor's degrees in textiles, textile design, or textile engineering. Key skills typically include knowledge of fabric properties, color management, computer-aided design (CAD) for textiles, and familiarity with quality standards and testing methods.

Work settings include textile mills and manufacturers, fashion brands and studios, interior textiles companies, and research or museum conservation labs. Roles may involve product development, process optimization, quality control, or creative design. The field is adapting to trends such as sustainability, digital textile printing, and the emergence of smart textiles, which influence design practices and production methods.