This page provides information on databases for researching in fashion and textiles. Gutman Library subscribes to several databases relevant to these fields. If you have used these databases before you can quickly link to:

WWD Online             WGSN               JustStyle.com      Textiles Technology Index   

Colour Index              TEXTILEnetBase

Or - jump to information about:

WWD Online             WGSN               JustStyle.com       Textiles Technology Index     

Colour Index              TEXTILEnetBase

FASHION

WWD Online - This is an electronic, web-based version of the newspaper WWD. In addition to providing the full text of each daily issue, this database provides a searchable archive of the full text of all WWD issues back to 1994. To connect to WWD Online click on the link at the top of this page..

WGSN - Worth Global Style Network is a web-based one-stop shop for a wide range of fashion industry information. It contains news, trend and style information, analysis of industry events, trade show information, catwalk photos from the latest fashion shows in major fashion capitals, city specific fashion information and there is also technical information on related textiles events. This database requires a user ID and password. Many students in fashion classes at Philadelphia University receive their own ID and password. If you do not have an ID and password, but want to search WGSN, go to the Reference Desk in Gutman Library. A librarian will log you on to WGSN. 

Just-Style.com - Since March 1999, just-style.com has developed into one of the most respected and fastest growing apparel, footwear and textile trade sites around. The site's unique content is produced and sourced by a network of correspondents and content partnerships, headed up by Leonie Barrie, former Editor of Clothing World magazine. This is a comprehensive source for news and feature articles about the industry. The content is searchable. Some students will be given an account by their instructor. All others are welcome to use this sources, but must come to the Gutman Library Reference Desk where a library staff member will log you on to the system.

TEXTILES

Textile Technology Index focuses on the technical and engineering aspects of the textile trade and includes books, dissertations and patents.  Only abstracts of articles --no full text. TTI is available on the EBSCO system. It is derived primarily from resources held in the Institute's library. Coverage includes the various aspects of textile production and processing, and the automation and management systems of these operations. Coverage also includes many of the major resources of the apparel, home furnishings, flooring, and polymer industries. Logon to TTI here.

Colour Index is an online version of the definitive guide for anyone who needs to know details of which companies manufacture and distribute dyes and pigments, or for anyone looking for technical details of these products.Colorants are listed according to the widely acclaimed system of Colour Index Generic Names and Colour Index Constitution Numbers. A detailed record of products available on the market is presented under each Colour Index reference. Against each product name is listed the manufacturer, physical form, principal usages and comments supplied by the manufacturer to guide prospective customers. An account is required to log in to Colour Index. You can obtain this from your instructor - if Colour Index is required for the class. Librarians at Gutman Library can also log students into Colour Index.

TEXTILEnetBase  is a collection of full-text books in the field of textiles published by the Taylor & Francis Group. The system can be searched for the occurrence of text in the entire collection of books, or by using the advanced search to limit the search to any one or any combination of books.

Dissertations Abstracts - this database contains bibliographic and citation data for every dissertation published in the United States. Any dissertation related to a textile topic can be found here is a summary format.

MATERIALS SCIENCES

For those seeking information and research on polymers, composites and other materials Gutman Library has two potential sources of information. Through ScienceDirect we have access to the materials science collection of electronic journals. Go to ScienceDirect and click on publications. Change the "display" to subscribed journals. You can then look at the titles alphabetically, and connect to specific issues. Alternately you can click on the search tab, change the subject to materials science, and then search the journals. 

WHERE ELSE CAN I LOOK

While none of our other online databases is as specific to fashion and textiles as the databases mentioned above, several of our business databases also cover these industries. We recommend:

ABI/Inform Global
Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe (Use Business - Industry - and choose Apparel as the industry type)
Wilson Business FT

CREDOReference provides ten art and design dictionaries and encyclopedias and one architecture dictionary. The system has a robust search system, especially for the online dictionaries where it can be hard to find a term if you don't know the spelling. In that case use the XreferPlus tilde (~) to find variants on a root spelling of a word (e.g., ~psycologist will find psychologist). The eleven art and design dictionaries are: The Bloomsbury Guide to Art, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Art Terms, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Art and Artists, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of 20th Century Architecture, The Thames & Hudson Encyclopedia of Impressionism, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of 20th Century Design and Designers, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of the Italian Renaissance, The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of British Art, The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers, and A Biographical Dictionary of Artists, Andromeda.   

For additional information on doing fashion research contact Stan Gorski gorskis@philau.edu
For additional information on doing textiles research contact Barbara Lowry lowryb@philau.edu