Textiles are widely used. One could say that they surround us, being components of everyday objects, such as elements of house interior (table cloths, curtains, and furniture upholstery), clothes (underwear, coats, shoes, and bags), means of transport (upholstery, airbags) as well as specialist products, e.g. uniforms, protection clothing or textile explosion protection and other protection products.

Although there is a great demand for textile products, in Poland there are few educational institutions that specialize in training experts in the field of textile design and production. The crucial questions that need to be asked are: do we need such experts and aren't we bound to buy what is produced in China and India? The production there is much cheaper, though only in the short-term perspective, because it is carried out at the expense of environmental protection, and restoring the environment will cost us significantly more than the savings made by the producers*. (This is in accordance with the assumptions of the P*eco initiative).

So, where should we look for a place, thanks to which textiles may become an idea for a career or an interesting hobby? An example of an educational path is presented below.

At the level of secondary school, one can already begin education which would include learning specifics about textiles. Liceum Plastyczne im. A. Grottgera (Art Secondary School) in Supraśl offers a 4-year programme which ends with a special art exam and the traditional end-of-secondary-school exams. The pupils finish their education with a certificate in artistic textiles. The school website informs that: "[.] as part of the programme, the pupils design and make their own decorative and industrial textiles. The programme includes classes in fashion design and theatrical costume design".

Apart from that, there are also 2-year post-secondary-school programmes which prepare the students for the profession of technologist of textile decorative products. For example, Szkoła Policealna AP Edukacja informs on its website that, after completing the programme, the certificate holder is prepared to work in companies producing textiles, i.e. fabric weaving and textile production facilities as well as craftwork studios.

The certificate holders are skilled in design, production control or decorative craftwork production made involving textiles, embroidery, lace and knitted materials, in accordance with the technology in which they were made, and by means of tools and machines used for textile craftwork. They are able to make a design of a decorative textile product, i.e. original clothes or their decorative elements, artistic textiles, industrial textiles, blankets, tablecloths, etc. They are also skilled with regard to: the preparation of technical conditions, the production technology of decorative textile products, the control of the production process and the introduction of adjustments at particular production phases.

However, if a programme like that is not enough, one can choose the most well-known academy, in this field: the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts and Design, and its Faculty of Textile Art and Fashion Design. As we can read on the academy website: "the goal is to train highly-qualified designers who will understand the processes involved in designing and be able to carry out their own design projects and create their art work. This goal is achieved thanks to the knowledge and experience in the field of visual arts.

Developing the faculty as a strong and active artistic and educational centre facilitates better preparation of students for perceiving and dealing with artistic problems and for shaping their own artistic personality. The faculty provides for a wide range of educational programmes and teaching methods, adjusting them to come up with the most appropriate conditions for the development of young talents, advancement of knowledge and improvement of qualifications, so that the students will be prepared for the on-going changes in the contemporary professional and artistic world of the 21st century". The graduates of the Faculty of Textile Art and Fashion Design are awarded with Master's degrees in Design in the chosen field: fashion, textiles, jewellery or textile printing.

Studying at the Academy of Fine Arts determines and shapes the future advancement of a career in the realm of creative activity in culture industries. Those who have more technical skills might be more interested in the educational offer at the Technical University of Łódź. The Faculty of Material Technology and Textile Design is a good place for those who want to learn both about design and the technological aspect of textile production.

In the case of the Technical University, the focus is on the practical aspect of education. The University cooperates with various employers, which nowadays is extremely important when choosing where to study.

The conclusions that can be drawn from this short analysis of the educational offer, with regard to textile design and manufacturing, are as follows: art academies do not seem to link the educational process with clear work opportunities; by contrast, in the case of technical universities, the artistic level appears to be low; the educational offer at the level of vocational training is very limited and, as in the case of secondary schools, it rarely allows to get training in the field of textiles.

There is a great need for promoting education in this field, by means of information campaigns as well as training sessions and courses financed from EU funds. In the next 4 years this could lead to a revival of interest (at universities and among pupils/students) in education concerning textile design and production.