This occurs after weaving or the manufacturing of synthetic materials, and the operations include washing, bleaching, dyeing and coating that use chemicals and a lot of water.

The Business Research Company found the textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating mills market size has grown rapidly in recent years. In October it said the market will grow from US$72.56bn in 2023 to US$81.94bn in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9%. The research company attributed this growth to consumer demand, globalisation and trade, fashion trends and technological advancements.

Finishing is the term for chemical and mechanical processes used on textiles. It does not include processes such as dyeing but can