fabric research

Polyester

• Resilient and easy care

• Machine washable due to dimensional stability

• Blends well with other fibres

• Superior aesthetics to Nylon

• Light in weight and dries quickly

• Exhibits moderate thermal retention. It is generally not as comfortable as wool or acrylic for  cold weather wear

• Blends with wool are very successful in increasing the comfort of the wool

• Polyester has an advantage over wool in many uses, since wool has poor wrinkle recovery

• Resiliency makes the polyester especially good for fibrefill in quilted fabrics such as quilts

Wool

• Because of wool’s high initial cost and the cost of care, many consumers consider them to be investments

• These factors have encouraged the substitution of acrylic, polyester, or wool/synthetic blends in many products

• Good moisture absorption without feeling wet

• Excellent heat retention

• Water repellency

• Flame resistant

• New Zealand produces 18.8 percent of the world’s wool

• Durable

• Wool fibres can be bent back on themselves 20,000 times without breaking, as compared to 3,000 times for cotton and 75 times for rayon

• Atmospheric moisture helps wool retain its flexibility

• In a light rain or snow, wool resists wetting and the water runs off or beads on the surface

• Wool’s excellent resiliency contributes to its warmth

• Wool does not soil readily and the removal of soil from wool is relatively simple

• Dry cleaning is the recommended care method for most wool items

• Renewable resource and environmentally friendly

• Wool garments fit well and can be shaped through tailoring

Cotton

• Aesthetically pleasing

• Comfortable for skin contact due to high absorbancy

• Easy care

• Moderate cost

• Ideal for warm weather apparel, but is appropriate for year round use

• Consumer acceptance

• Low resiliency

• Limited shrinkage

• Cotton can be washed with strong detergents and 

• Cotton blended with polyester is a very wrinkle resistant fabric

• Ease of finishings and dyeing

Nylon

• Successful in hosiery and knitted fabrics due to its smoothness, light weight, and high strength

• Outstanding durability

• High elongation and excellent elastic recovery excellent for hosiery

• Nylon can be heat set which helps it retain its shape during wear

• Nylon is used for lining fabrics in some coats and jackets. They are more durable, however, the cost is greater because of the greater difficulty in sewing and higher costs as compared with acetate fabrics.

• Has low absorbency and is not as comfortable to wear as natural fibres

• Widely used for wind and water resistant jackets

• Highly resilient because they have been heat set

• Easy care as they retain their appearance and shape during use and care

• Nylon fabrics can pick up other colours during washing

• Dries quickly

Acrylic

• Soft and rather comfortable due to irregular surfaces

• Bulky fabric retains body heat so are warm in cold temperatures

• Because of their low specific gravity and high bulk, acrylic has been called “warmth without weight” 

• Resilient but not as durable as nylon or polyester

• Acrylics are used for sweaters as an alternative to wool

• Superior to wool in their easy care properties and nonallergenic

• Wool-like texture

• Not as heavy as wool

• Poor dimension stability