Tekstiliste

Tekstiliste is a practitioner who designs or creates textiles and fabric-based works. The term can cover designers who develop patterns and materials for clothing, interiors, or art; craftsmen who weave, knit, dye, print, embroider, or sculpt textiles; and researchers who study textile processes and materials. In Nordic and other European contexts, the word emphasizes the craft and design aspect of textiles rather than mass production alone.

Work may involve concept development, material selection, and production planning. Techniques include weaving (including loom work and jacquard), knitting, embroidery, surface decoration (screen printing, digital printing, dyeing), felting, and finishing processes. Materials range from natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and silk to synthetic fibers and innovative blends.

Education for tektilister typically combines art and design training with material science and techniques. Programs in textile design, fashion textiles, or fiber arts at universities, arts colleges, or technical institutes are common. Many professionals also gain experience through studios, internships, or apprenticeships with fashion houses, textile manufacturers, or art centers.

Notable practitioners include Anni Albers, a Bauhaus-era figure pivotal in textile design, and contemporary fiber artists such as Sheila Hicks. The field intersects with fashion, interior design, and art, and has increasingly emphasized sustainable material choices and ethical production. See also textile design, fiber art, weaving, fabric printing, textile sustainability.