A study on the random distribution of a red acrylic target fibre

This project was a target fibre study carried out by the European Fibres Group. Thirty-eight participating laboratories in nineteen countries searched four hundred and thirty five randomly selected top outer garments. The acrylonitrile/vinyl acetate co-polymer target fibre matched those in a red acrylic scarf, marketed in nine of those countries. The sales figures for the last five years were between 5- and 10,000 scarves annually. Matching fibres were found on only two garments, one fibre per garment. The possible origin of these two fibres is discussed. The result showed that the chances of finding a 'collective' of target fibres on a piece of clothing selected at random can be said to be extremely remote.