Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to research and analyse textiles used in the fashion and clothing industries, and make recommendations to guide the commercial development of fashion products.
The unit of competency applies to individuals who need to make recommendations to guide commercial development of materials and products on aspects, such as quality, processing, finish, use, properties or performance. The unit of competency applies to working with raw materials, partially finished and finished fashion products.
Work is performed in line with a broad plan or strategy and workplace practices. Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to analyse fashion industry textiles | 2.1 | Establish research objectives, criteria for research and develop a research plan |
2.2 | Research textiles used in fashion products to determine properties, qualities, aesthetic and performance characteristics | ||
2.3 | Investigate new and emerging textiles and textile processing techniques | ||
2.4 | Research global and domestic trends in using textiles for fashion products | ||
2.5 | Use a range of routine and non-routine tests to gather data on textiles | ||
3 | Research fashion products | 3.1 | Identify fashion products or uses incorporating researched textiles |
3.2 | Research quality and performance characteristics of a sample range of partially completed or finished fashion products | ||
3.3 | Identify factors influencing quality of fashion products and examine product faults | ||
3.4 | Research global and domestic implications for use of fashion products | ||
3.5 | Use a range of routine and non-routine tests to gather data on fashion product quality | ||
4 | Analyse findings of textile research | 4.1 | Analyse research findings against research objectives and criteria, and prioritise according to significance |
4.2 | Review methodology to identify any potential influences on findings | ||
4.3 | Analyse findings to establish potential contributions to commercial developments | ||
4.4 | Take into account intellectual property and ethical practice to select findings with most potential for further review | ||
5 | Evaluate and finalise research into fashion industry textiles | 5.1 | Analyse features and benefits of selected findings |
5.2 | Analyse disadvantages or risks associated with selected findings | ||
5.3 | Develop recommendations on how findings can be used for commercial gain | ||
5.4 | Document research findings and recommendations | ||
5.5 | Check data for accuracy and relevance, and prepare a report for presentation | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices
applying relevant standards
researching textiles used in fashion products to determine properties, qualities, aesthetic and performance characteristics
investigating new and emerging textiles and textile processing techniques, and global and domestic trends in using textiles for fashion products
using a range of routine and non-routine tests to gather data on at least ten (10) different textiles, including smart fabrics and new and emerging textiles
using a range of routine and non-routine tests to gather data on fashion product quality and performance of at least five (5) partially completed or finished fashion products
analysing features and benefits, disadvantages or risks associated with selected findings
identifying opportunities and making recommendations on how findings can be used for commercial gain, taking account of intellectual property and ethical practice requirements
documenting research findings and recommendations, and presenting a report, according to workplace procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian standards
sources of information
qualities of textiles:
firmness
softness
hand
weight
grain or gauge
drape
porosity
covering power
count
light penetration
environmental safety
range of material for testing:
raw materials
partially finished fashion products
finished fashion products
performance characteristics of textiles:
stretch
abrasion
wearability
absorbency
durability
elasticity
heat sensitivity
flammability
shrink resistance
ease of care
drape quality
colour fastness
creep
strength
recycling
commercial relevance or objectives for research
research methodology
routine testing procedures:
visual checking
colour matching
weighing
height/weight/thickness measuring
moisture measuring
measuring rubbing fastness
stretch
wear
cracking
colour
gloss
softness
handle
texture
light and colour fastness
heat fastness
tensile characteristics
flexibility
non-routine testing procedures:
tests performed in a laboratory environment to laboratory level standards
destructive testing
relevant work health and safety (WHS) legislation, codes of practice, copyright obligations, policies and procedures
intellectual property (IP) and ethical practice
quality practices
workplace practices
recording and report writing practices.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in textile analysis and research for commercial development, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions PPE oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS requirements |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Research criteria includes: | scope of research required documentation required research verification research methodologies timing commercial constraints or requirements |
Fashion textiles include one or more of the following: | natural fibres, such as cotton, wool, silk and linen synthetic fibres, such as polyamide and polyester, acrylic, lycra, rayon and acetate natural and synthetic single-yarn fabrics and blends, including: knitted fabrics, such as weft knits and warp knits woven fabrics, such as plain, twill, satin, dobby, jacquard and pile non-woven fabrics, such as felts, nets, braids, bonded and composite emerging smart fabrics raw materials new and emerging textiles yarn |
Reports include one or more of the following: | report format that meets work requirements formal structure with relevant headings report content, including: text graphs charts tables diagrams |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology