SIBL > Science and Technology Information > Apparel, Fashion & Textiles

How can I keep current with the latest news and information in the apparel/fashion/textiles industries?

Indexes and Abstracts

An index is a print or electronic resource that provides citations to articles published in periodicals, journals or newspapers. Some are general while others are specific in their subject coverage.

An abstract has all the information provided by an index with the addition of a summary of the article.

Note: For additional information on Indexes/Abstracts: see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scindexes.htm

Guidelines to formulating a search strategy:

  1. Use AND, OR, NOT to combine your keywords: i.e.

    “dyes and finish” will yield articles with both terms
    “apparel or clothing” will yield articles with apparel or clothing or both
    “textiles not wool” will yield articles with textiles without wool

  2. Use truncation or wildcards (usually represented by * or ?) to find terms with similar roots:

    E.g. cloth* with yield articles with cloth, clothes, clothing, etc.

  3. To search a phrase, use quotes: e.g. “screen printing”; “woven fabrics”

  4. To be more specific in a search, limit the search by:

    Language (e.g. English)
    Date (e.g. last 12 months)
    Type (e.g. industry surveys; company overviews)
    Format (e.g. full text)
    Level (secondary; research)

Selected Electronic Databases Related to apparel/fashion/textiles

These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL or are available from home/school/office with an NYPL borrowers card  (*) from the library website, (http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home).   See also the Research Libraries listing of online databases: http://www.nypl.org/databases/ for a complete listing of on-site databases.

Note: For additional information on electronic databases, see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scieic.htm

  • Textile Technology Digest (EIC)
    Abstracts of articles. Provides international coverage of the literature of textiles and related subjects. Coverage includes the various aspects of textile production and processing, and the automation and management systems of these operations. Includes many of the major resources of the apparel, home furnishings, flooring, and polymer industries.  Also available in print 1944-1983 (JSM 94-760); 1984 – present (JSM 03-54).
  • Women's Wear Daily (WWD) Online (EIC)
    Articles. Full text Database. The fashion industry's daily news source, covering business issues, fashion trends, retailing developments, international ready-to-wear, couture presentations, and market overviews. WWD is written for retailers and manufacturers of women's apparel, accessories, fibers, and textiles. 1994 - Present. Updated: Daily.
    See also WWD Illustrated for illustrations from 1960s-1990s (*R-SIBL HD9940.U52.B79-McGraw Desk)
  • Business & Company Resource Center (EIC) and (*)
    Includes full text industry overviews from the most current edition of Encyclopedia of Global Industries and articles from trade journals such as Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).
  • PROMT (Predicast Overview of Markets and Technology) (EIC)
    Articles. Full Text and Abstract Database. Use this database to research companies, the products and technologies they produce, and the markets in which they compete. Includes summaries and full text from nearly 1,000 business and trade journals, industry newsletters, newspapers, market research studies, news releases, and investment and brokerage firm reports. 1994 - Present. Updated: Daily.

The following electronic databases also contains relevant articles/reports regarding apparel, fashion and textiles:

  • Applied Science and Technology Abstracts
  • Biography Index (EIC) and Biography Resource Center (EIC) and (*)
    Databases of biographical information on notable people including fashion designers.
  • EBSCOHost (EIC) and (*) (Includes databases such as Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Masterfile Premier, Newspaper Source, and Professional Development Collection.)
  • General BusinessFile ASAP (EIC)
  • Market Research.com Academic and Market Research Monitor (EIC)

Selected Print Indexes Related to apparel/fashion/textiles

  • Applied Science and Technology Index. 1958 - Present. (*R-SIBL Z7913.I7)
  • Clothing and Textile Arts Index. 1993 (JSM 93-192)
  • Industrial Arts Index. 1913-1957 (*R-SIBL  Z7913.I7)
  • Textile Technology Digest. 1944-1983 (JSM 94-760); 1984 – present (JSM 03-54)
  • World Textile Abstracts. 1969-1984 (JSM 94-751); 1985 – present (*R-SIBL TS1300.W94)