There are three main raw materials in textile industry:
Cotton,
Wool, and
Synthetic fibres.

The main final products are threads, fibres, fabrics, clothes, knittings, embroideries and carpets which constitute the raw material of dyeing and finishing industry. The synthetic raw material are categorised in the regenerated artificial fibres, such as viscose (rayon), cuprammonium rayon, acetate and triacetate cellulose, and in the synthetic fibres such as polyamide (nylon), polyester and acrylic fibres. Finally, there also exist mixed raw materials that are the combination natural and artificial materials.

The colours can be categorized in various ways, such as depending on their chemical composition or the way they are applied on the raw material (fibre, fabrics). Depending on the way of application, the colours are categorized in Direct, Reactive, Vat, Disperse, Sulfur and Acid colour. The reactive and direct colours are mainly used in dying cotton fabrics, whereas disperese colours are mainly used in dyeing polyester materials. During the production of the dye 10 - 80% of clean colour is used. The maximum corresponds to colours that are added in the form of powder, while the minimum to liquid colours. Apart from colour, disperse agents (eg products of the condensation of formaldehyde), stabilisation agents (salt), and additional materials are added. The auxiliary materials are used in order to give certain desired characteristics to the final product or in order to increase the performance of the dye. Typical auxiliary materials that are used in the dyeing industry are auxiliaries for printing, surface active and hardening materials, etc.

Moreover, many other materials can be used in order to protect the textile from fire, to provide waterproofing and anti-static protection, to treat the textiles against shrinkage and provide them some resistance to decomposition, moth, fungs, etc. The basic chemical substances that are used for the production of dyes are inorganic salts (sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, etc), alkaline solutions (hydroxide of sodium etc), acids (acetic acid, formic acid, inorganic acids etc.) and reducing and oxidant agents (hydrogen peroxide etc).