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Science & ResearchISCO 2163

Textile colourist

A textile colourist is a person who prepares, develops and creates the colours used in textile applications. The output is a recipe: a stated combination of dyes and auxiliaries that will produce a defined colour on a defined material, repeatably, at production scale.

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Check yourself in a minute: textile colourist

Rate 5 of the 10 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use textile technique for hand-made products

prepare equipment for textile printing

maintain work standards

draw sketches to develop textile articles

design yarns

About textile colourist

Repeatability is the whole difficulty. The colourist develops the dyeing recipes for textile materials, works from the chemical treatment of textile materials, and has to allow for the fact that the same dye gives a different result on cotton, on wool and on a synthetic fibre, and a different result again in a different batch of the same fibre. A colour achieved in the laboratory therefore has to be reproducible in production.

Colour reaches beyond the dye bath. The colourist designs yarn, where the colour is built into the thread before anything is woven, and prepares the equipment for textile printing, where the colour is applied to a finished fabric. Sketching textile products in software is part of the development work.

Part of the role is organisational. The colourist manages the portfolio in textile and clothing production, which is the range of products the business offers, looks for improvements in current operations, and ensures compliance with labour standards, including the safe handling of chemicals.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (10)

textile chemistrytextile chemistryChemical processing of textiles such as the reactions of textiles to chemicals.portfolio management in textile manufacturingportfolio management in textile manufacturingThe process of managing teams and projects in textile and clothing product development.use textile technique for hand-made productsuse textile technique for hand-made productsUsing textile technique to produce hand-made products, such as carpets, tapestry, embroidery, lace, silk screen printing, wearing apparel, etc.prepare equipment for textile printingprepare equipment for textile printingManufacture screens and prepare printing paste. Use tools and equipment associated with screen printing. Select screen types and mesh for appropriate substrates. Develop, dry and finish screen image. ...maintain work standardsmaintain work standardsMaintaining standards of work in order to improve and acquire new skills and work methods.draw sketches to develop textile articlesdraw sketches to develop textile articlesDraw sketches to develop textiles or wearing apparel by hand. They create visualisations of the motives, patterns or products in order to be manufactured.design yarnsdesign yarnsDeveloping structural and colour effects in yarns and threads by using yarn and thread manufacturing techniques.develop textile colouring recipesdevelop textile colouring recipesDeveloping recipes for dyeing and printing processes of textiles.draw sketches to develop textile articles using softwaresdraw sketches to develop textile articles using softwaresDraw sketches to develop textiles or wearing apparel using softwares. They create visualisations of the motives, patterns or products in order to be manufactured.seek innovation in current practicesseek innovation in current practicesSearch for improvements and present innovative solutions, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new technologies, methods or ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Optional (2) — show
textile marketing techniquestextile marketing techniquesThe techniques for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers of textile products and services.conduct textile testing operationsconduct textile testing operationsPrepare for textile testing and evaluation, gathering the test samples, conducting and recording tests, validating data and presenting results.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

textile designer6 shared essential skillstextile product developer5 shared essential skillstextile printer4 shared essential skillsfashion designer3 shared essential skillsfinishing textile technician3 shared essential skillsprinting textile technician3 shared essential skillstextile chemist3 shared essential skillstextile dyer3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a textile colourist do?

Textile colourists prepare, develop and create colours for textile applications.

What skills does a textile colourist need?

A textile colourist needs 10 essential skills, including textile chemistry, portfolio management in textile manufacturing, use textile technique for hand-made products, prepare equipment for textile printing, maintain work standards.

Will AI replace textile colourist jobs?

The AI disruption score for textile colourist is 33/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: draw sketches to develop textile articles, draw sketches to develop textile articles using softwares, develop textile colouring recipes. Most resilient: use textile technique for hand-made products, prepare equipment for textile printing, maintain work standards.

Quick Facts

SectorScience & Research
ISCO GroupScience and engineering professionals
Essential Skills10

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