This review deals with the main physico-chemical and interfacial processes, related to adhesion, that occur during textile manufacturing from raw material to the different final end-products. As regards the possible interfaces (solid/gas, solid/liquid and solid/solid), a number of considerations should be borne in mind in order to modulate the adhesion properties of textile materials. In the solid/gas section are presented the theoretical concepts, methods for gas adsorption determination, influence of fiber and fabric structure on gas adsorption and the influence of environmental conditions on surface group orientation. In the solid/liquid section the theoretical aspects and practical considerations related to detergency, solid-liquid interactions, surface roughness, lotus effect in self-cleaning surfaces and wicking in textile substrates are presented. Finally, in the solid/solid section are described the principles of adhesion, conditions for good adhesion and the incorporation of microcapsules and nanoparticles into textile substrates. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010