nontextile

Nontextile is a broad categorization used to describe materials, products, and processes that are not textiles. In industrial, commercial, and academic contexts, textiles are fabrics produced by weaving, knitting, felting, or nonwoven processes from natural or synthetic fibers. Nontextiles encompass a wide range of other materials and components used in manufacturing, construction, packaging, and consumer goods.

Typical nontextile materials include metals (steel, aluminum), ceramics, glass, plastics and polymers (polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate), composites (carbon fiber-reinforced polymers), paper, wood, leather, and rubber. Some items, such as advanced composites or coated metals, may play roles adjacent to textile products (for example, fabric-like reinforcements or textile substrates) but retain nontextile classification in most catalogs.

Nontextile classification helps organize products for sourcing, recycling, and analysis separate from textiles. In product design, distinguishing textiles from nontextiles highlights different material properties, manufacturing methods, end-of-life considerations, and regulatory frameworks. The concept is intended to be inclusive rather than prescriptive, accommodating the wide variety of materials used in modern industry.