When people think of textiles, they often picture fashion design or a bit of sewing at school. But textiles is a subject with far more reach - and far more relevance - than most people realise.

Textiles is used more than you think. From what we wear and how we furnish our homes, to life-saving medical innovations and sustainable alternatives to plastic, textiles plays a part in shaping the world around us. It’s a skill that combines creativity with science, problem-solving with precision, and artistry with engineering.

Far from being “just a craft”, textiles opens doors into industries that fuel the economy, drive innovation, and improve lives. The processes behind textiles - designing, making, testing, refining - are critical skills in many fast-moving, high-impact sectors.

It also teaches young people how to think practically, solve problems independently, and see the real-world results of their efforts. That kind of learning sticks. It builds confidence, capability, and an understanding of how the things around us are made.

Whether you’re creating a garment, an upholstery fabric, or a material that resists bacteria or heat, textile skills are about much more than sewing - they’re about imagining better outcomes, and building them.