Comparison of Fabric Hand with Sensory Comfort for Knitted Clothes

Abstract

Sensory comfort is an important criterion in buying decision of garments. Consumers try to judge wearing comfort by touching, rubbing and squeezing fabric with hand (Fabric Hand). Being subjective in nature, the effectiveness of ‘fabric hand’ is under question. In this study, a detailed approach has been adopted to compare ‘fabric hand’ with ‘wearer’s response’ on comfort. Single jersey fabrics were made in 140 & 160 grams per square meters using cotton and poly-cotton blend yarns. One half of each of the four fabrics was bleached to white while the other was dyed. In addition, a part of each processed fabric was kept with normal finish while the second was applied with softener finish. For fabric hand evaluation, a group of male and female volunteers was trained as per AATCC evaluation procedure # 05. For sensory analysis, boxer shorts were prepared and the volunteers were asked to wear them for day long and record responses. The response variables smoothness, stiffness, roughness and tensile stretch and thickness were evaluated. It was concluded that fabric hand is economical and reliable, where modern equipment cannot be used. Also, female panelists were found better in subjective evaluation than males.