Improving Comfort in Clothing

Wear comfort has been listed as the most important property of clothing demanded by users and consumers according to recent studies. A fundamental understanding of human comfort and a knowledge of how to design textiles and garments to maximise comfort for the wearer is therefore essential in the clothing industry. Improving comfort in clothing reviews the latest developments in the manufacturing of comfortable apparel and discusses methods of improving it in various articles of clothing.The book begins by outlining the fundamentals of human comfort in clothing, from the human perception of comfort in apparel and factors which affect it such as the properties of fibres and fabrics, to laboratory testing, analysing and predicting of the comfort properties of textiles. Part two discusses methods of improving comfort in apparel, from controlling thermal comfort and managing moisture, to enhancing body movement comfort in various garments. Part three reviews methods of improving comfort whilst maintaining function in specific types of clothing such as protective garments, sports wear and cold weather clothingThe international team of contributors to Improving comfort in clothing has produced a unique overview of numerous aspects of clothing comfort, provides an excellent resource for researchers and designers in the clothing industry. It will also be beneficial for academics researching wear comfort.- Reviews the latest developments in the manufacturing of comfortable apparel and discusses methods of improving fit in various articles of clothing- An overview of how to design textiles and garments to maximise comfort begins with factors affecting comfort and properties of fibres and fabrics that contribute to human comfort- Improvements in thermal and tactile comfort and moisture management are explored featuring developments in textile surfaces

Contributor contact detailsWoodhead Publishing Series in TextilesPrefacePart I: Fundamentals of comfort and assessmentChapter 1: Factors affecting comfort: human physiology and the role of clothingAbstract:1.1 Definition of comfort1.2 Human physiological aspect of comfort1.3 Energy metabolism and physical work1.4 Human heat balance1.5 Clothing as near environment1.6 Various aspects of clothing comfort1.7 Comfort variables1.8 Effective temperature and the comfort chart1.9 Response to extreme temperature1.10 Development of heat stress and its control1.11 Protective clothing1.12 Future trends and further information and adviceChapter 2: Properties of fibers and fabrics that contribute to human comfortAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Comfort properties of fibers2.3 Physical modification of fibers2.4 Comfort properties of yarns2.5 Comfort properties of fabric structures2.6 ConclusionsChapter 3: Wool and garment comfortAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Wool quality3.3 Benchmarking: wool quality in retail garments3.4 Comfort in wool garments: a new assessment protocol3.5 Wool garment comfort assessment3.6 Comfort response of individuals3.7 Wool quality and garment comfort3.8 Conclusions3.9 Sources of further information and advice3.10 AcknowledgmentsChapter 4: How consumers perceive comfort in apparelAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 How humans sense comfort4.3 The Nervous System4.4 Human brain4.5 Skin and its functions4.6 Structure of the skin4.7 Senses and sensory receptors4.8 Skin and senses4.9 Sensations and fabrics4.10 Psychological factors and overall comfort perception4.11 ConclusionsChapter 5: Laboratory measurement of thermo-physiological comfortAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Thermo-physiological comfort5.3 Thermal resistance5.4 Water vapour transport5.5 Air permeability5.6 Wicking, buffering and absorbency5.7 New developments and future trendsChapter 6: Testing, analyzing and predicting the comfort properties of textilesAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Characterization of comfort6.3 Testing, analyzing and predicting neurophysiological comfort6.4 Testing, analyzing and predicting thermophysiological comfort6.5 Design-oriented comfort model6.6 Future trendsPart II: Improving comfort in apparelChapter 7: Improving thermal comfort in apparelAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Different approaches for improving the thermal comfort of clothing7.3 ConclusionsChapter 8: Improving moisture management in apparelAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Transport of perspiration8.3 Fundamentals of moisture transfer between the human body and the environment8.4 Factors influencing moisture transport8.5 Improving moisture transport8.6 Clothing requirements for different environmental conditions8.7 Developments in moisture management8.8 Future trendsChapter 9: Improving tactile comfort in fabrics and clothingAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Comfort and neurophysiology9.3 Human tactile sensation9.4 Fabric mechanical properties and tactile-pressure sensations9.5 Warmth or coolness to the touch of fabrics9.6 Improving the textile surface properties for tactile sensation9.7 Predictability of sensory comfort9.8 Improving electrostatic propensity9.9 Future trends9.10 ConclusionsChapter 10: Garment pattern design and comfortAbstract:10.1 Introduction: fundamental principles of fit in apparel10.2 Clothing comfort and fit10.3 Manual and mechanical stretch testingResults10.4 Stretch pattern development10.5 Future trends10.6 Conclusions10.7 Sources of further information and adviceChapter 11: Improving body movement comfort in apparelAbstract:11.1 Introduction: fundamental principles of movement in apparel11.2 Fashion and functional apparel: aesthetics, protection, performance and movement11.3 Materials and design strategies to provide appropriate movement performance11.4 Movement and garment stretch/pressure/compression11.