Apparel and textiles programs prepare people to work with clothing and fabric. Students learn the properties of different types of fabrics and how they are processed. They learn about the design and use of fabrics. They may also learn to consult others on the selection and coordination of fabrics or clothing needs for special occasions.

When you pick up a piece of clothing, can you automatically identify its fabric components? Do you find yourself accurately predicting future fabrics and clothing trends? Maybe your friends think you're nutty because of your fascination with those special pants that resist wrinkling and staining. If any of these descriptions fit you, apparel and textiles may be the program of study for you.

As a student in this program, you have the opportunity to learn about any of a wide range of aspects in the field. You could study the actual production process of fabrics and other kinds of textiles such as carpeting and upholstery. You would learn the technical skills and study the new technological developments you would need to know to make textiles and clothing. You would also study ways to test textiles after they're made. Are those pants really wrinkle-free? Are those drapes flammable?

If you were more economically minded, you could study marketing trends in the textiles industry. You might learn about the way that different countries view clothing and how culture influences that. You would also study the sales processes in retail clothing and textile companies. These are just a few of the things you could study in this program.

There are about 100 schools that offer programs in apparel and textiles where you can earn an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. An associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study after high school. A bachelor's degree typically takes four years. A master's degree generally takes about two years of full-time study after you get a bachelor's degree, and a doctoral degree about four to five years after a master's degree.

Students who major in apparel and textiles typically choose to focus on a particular area of this program of study. Possible areas include:

• Apparel and Textile Manufacture
• Apparel and Textile Quality Analysis
• Merchandising Management