A STUDIO-BASED EXPLORATION OF MATERIAL INNOVATION IN HANDLOOM WEAVING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33153/artistic.v7i1.7803Keywords:
Warp yarn breakages, Studio-based research, Handloom technology, Material innovation, Nylon threadsAbstract
Frequent warp yarn breakages continue to reduce the efficiency of handloom weaving, especially when using traditional spun yarns like cotton and polyester. This study explores the possibility of using nylon threads as unconventional yarns for hand weaving to overcome this issue. A studio-based, practice-led experimental design was employed, using nylon threads, commonly found in non-textile applications, as both warp and weft materials to evaluate their performance under real weaving conditions. The results show that nylon’s high tensile strength and abrasion resistance allowed it to function effectively as warp yarns, preventing breakages during weaving and creating tight, durable fabrics suitable for non-clothing uses such as upholstery and interior textiles. However, its slippery texture affected weft performance, necessitating modifications such as the use of open reeds and adjusted dent densities. The study demonstrates that nylon threads can be successfully adapted for handloom production as tough warp materials, providing an innovative alternative that reduces production inefficiencies. By reinterpreting a non-traditional material through studio-based experimentation, the research contributes to sustainable textile design and underlines the importance of material innovation in advancing modern handloom practices.
Downloads
References
Apau, E. (2025).An Auto-Ethnography Reflection on Weaving: A Philosophical Account of Lived Experiences. ARTISTIC : International Journal of Creation and Innovation, 6(2), 161-178, DOI:10.33153/artistic.v6i2.7687.
Afriyie, A. O., Howard, E. K., Asinyo, B. K., Badoe, W., Seidu, R. K., & Apau, E. (2021). Electronic warp-break detection mechanism for manual looms. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, 25(4), 361–379, DOI: 10.1108/RJTA-06-2020-0067.
Azevedo, J. L. A., Ribeiro, R. P. P., Matos, L. M., Sousa, R., Silva, J. P., Pilastri, A. L., & Cortez, P. (2022). Predicting Yarn Breaks in Textile Fabrics: A Machine Learning Approach. Procedia Computer Science, 207, 2301–2310, DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2022.09.289.
Badawi, S. (2022). An Analytical Study of Warp Yarns Tension during the Weaving Process. International Design Journal, 12(5), 179–186. DOI: 10.21608/idj.2022.260581.
Borodin, P., Osipov, E., & Pilipchuk, D. (2022). Performance characteristics of threads made of various synthetic materials in fishing gear and aquaculture facilities. Fisheries, 2022(6), 79–81, DOI: 10.37663/0131-6184-2022-6-79-81.
Choogin, V. V., Bandara, P., & Chepelyuk, E. V. (2013). Safety devices on weaving machines (pp. 135–144). DOI: 10.1533/9780857097859.135.
Gerster, M. (2011). Scrim device comprises two longitudinal edges, several crocheted warp threads parallel to longitudinal edges, several upright threads parallel to crochet threads and several weft threads between crochet threads and upright threads. Retrieved from: https://www.freepatentsonline.com/DE102010015339.html.
Igarashi, Y., & Mitani, J. (2013). Interactive card weaving design and construction. In ACM SIGGRAPH 2013 Posters (pp. 1-1).
Makhmudova, N. (2022). Experimental method for determining the deformation of warp threads on looms. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 1(1), 115.
Parasakthibala, G., & Monisha, A. S. (2022). A Review on Natural Fibers; Its Properties and Application Over Synthetic Fibers. International Journal For Science Technology And Engineering, 10(8), 1894–1897, DOI: 10.22214/ijraset.2022.46530.
Puadi, M. F., Bin Khairani, M. Z., & Bin Othman, A. N. (2020). Studio investigation: An approach in studio-based research. Psychology and Education, 57(8), 1006-1011, DOI: 10.17762/TURCOMAT.V12I3.794.
Salolainen, M., Leppisaari, A. M., & Niinimäki, K. (2018). Transforming fashion expression through textile thinking. The Artist and Journal of Home Culture, 8(1), 3, DOI: 10.3390/ARTS8010003.
Üte, T. B. (2024). A comprehensive study on the component properties of hybrid weft yarns and their effects on denim fabric performance. Tekstil Ve Konfeksiyon, DOI: 10.32710/tekstilvekonfeksiyon,1469869.
Zhao, H. (2021). Characterization and modelling of moisture influence on the behaviour of rubberized fabric thread [Doctoral dissertation]. Technische Universität Clausthal.
Figure References
Figure 1. Nylon threads (n.d). Available at: https://www.dreamstime.com/nylon-sewing-threads-needle-isolated-white-background-d-illustration-image219525984 (Accessed: October 20, 2025).
Figure 2. a) Reed, b) Raddle, c) Reed hook, d) Heddling hook, e) Shuttles, f) Drag box, g) Bobbin winder, h) Warping mill, i) Broadloom (2025). Textile Weaving Studio, Department of Industrial Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Authors’ studio shot.
Figure 3. a) Warp milling, b) Warp chain, c) Raddling, d) Beaming, e) Heddling, f) Threading, g) Tie-up (2025). Textile Weaving Studio, Department of Industrial Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Authors’ studio shot.
Figure 4. Challenges, interventions and outcomes of nylon threads in handloom weaving (2025). Authors’ Construct.
Figure 5. Fabric samples woven with nylon threads, showing a compact and dense structure achieved through effective beat-up motion. [a) Weave 1: Complex twill, b) Weave 2: Plain weave, c) Weave 3: Plain weave, d) Weave 4: Modified Plain weave] (2025). Authors’ studio shot.
Figure 6. Application of nylon thread-woven fabric as a tablecloth, demonstrating its suitability for durable, non-apparel textile products (2025). Authors’ studio shot
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Edward Apau, Morrison Appiagyei Boadi, Reindolf Amponsah Monnie, Bright Kofi Koseme
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright
Authors who publish with Artistic agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
