Descriptive Evaluation of Ready-to-Wear Clothing Textiles

Tactile properties of clothing textiles influence consumers' decision-making during clothing selection, buying, and consumption (wear). A descriptive hand evaluation of the tactile properties of ready-to-wear clothing textiles was conducted. Textile students developed descriptors and definitions to describe tactile attributes of 27 ready-to-wear textiles. Principal component analysis revealed three components explaining 83.36% of the tactile variation among the textiles. The tactile attributes explained significant differences (p < 0.01; stickiness, p = 0.09) among textiles. Using the descriptive clothing textile tactile attribute (DCTTA) lexicon, rigid, rough textiles (Denim, Wool Melton) were contrasted to flowy, smooth textiles (Lycra Knit, Viscose Plain Weave). Heavier and warmer textiles (Wool Melton, Felt) were contrasted to lightweight and cool textiles (Chiffon). Insights on the descriptive tactile attributes of a broad range of ready-to-wear clothing textiles, using the lexicon developed, could enable clothing manufacturers and designers to create products with specifically defined sensory attributes. The study contributes to advancing methods for tactile evaluation of clothing textiles. For practicality, the three components revealed by the PCA were simplified for consumer communication to three dimensions, namely (1) soft/flowy versus rough/rigid, (2) crisp/light versus hairy/thick, and (3) smooth/flat versus irregular/bouncy. This study developed a "Hand-Feel Meter" to visually communicate fabric hand in online retail by portraying a specific textile's hand using these three dimensions on slider scales.