The article presents some aspects of teaching and training future specialists in the sphere of decorative and applied arts alongside some issues devoted to the development of their opinion that modern artistic textiles are innovative means of decorative and applied arts and play a significant role in the development of creative competence of textile artists. The need to rethink the history of textiles in Ukraine and analyse the problems of its current artistic and industrial state, especially in the Southern regions, has been grounded. It has been proved that the role of artistic textiles, together with carpet weaving and batik, in the socio-cultural and economic development of Ukraine’s artistic space remains relevant today. Special attention is given to the genetic basis for using Ukrainian textiles (the spiritual component of the ornamental carpet) through the symbolism of which representatives of all segments of the population tried to identify with Ukraine, this basis being an integral component in the development process of the professional competence of future specialists in the sphere of decorative and applied arts. It has been substantiated that one cannot forget the ancient traditions of textile art; it is necessary to revive them in original modern forms, to promote the development of experimental tendencies, to work creatively with textiles while teaching the course "Decorative and Applied Arts", to show how promising it is in its artistic and cultural essence, to provide an analysis of the exhibition activity as a guarantee for the development of creative search, a stimulator to the creative activity of a future specialist in decorative and applied arts. The purpose of the article is to identify the interrelations and interactions of folk and professional art; to outline the role of profession-centred art education in the development of artistic textiles in Ukraine; to analyse experimental tendencies and concepts of Ukraine’s modern professional textiles. The conclusions state that the language and style of the Ukrainian textile art has always depended on traditions and national sources, as well as on the latest trends in Western European Art. The analysis of the existing methodological approaches to teaching future specialists in decorative and applied arts, aimed at searching for new methods of improving the quality of education, and developing their professional competence enables us to assess the idea of innovative learning, teaching and assessment in a new way. An important condition for successful training of future professionals in the sphere of decorative and applied arts is the development of their creative competence, which includes the ability to emotionally perceive the environment, to creatively transform it, the awareness of the culture of peoples and nations in different periods of society development, to master universal human values, including creative values, providing creative self-realisation and self-development.