Prickle discomfort assessment of commercial knitted wool garments
International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology
ISSN: 0955-6222
Article publication date: 9 January 2018
Issue publication date: 22 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the significant factors important for prickle discomfort properties of commercial wool knitwear and to analyse information on variability of garments manufactured over two decades, a total of 177 purchased garments were tested.
Design/methodology/approach
The relationship between the attributes of the reversed engineered garments and garment comfort, as assessed by Wool ComfortMeter, was determined.
Findings
The results indicate that: mean fibre diameter had the most significant effect on prickle assessment; the coefficient of variation of fibre diameter interacted with fabric thickness in affecting prickle discomfort; and rib knit structures were pricklier than single jersey structures.
Originality/value
The results provide objective evidence that the consumer surveys reporting dissatisfaction with the prickle discomfort of wool are based on real consumer experiences of prickle discomfort and are not based on “prejudice” against wool garments.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Professor Xungai Wang for his support and Bruce Mullins (DAFWA) for facilitating the transfer of garments to Deakin University.
Citation
Naebe, M., McGregor, B., Dowling, M. and Tester, D. (2018), "Prickle discomfort assessment of commercial knitted wool garments", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 73-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-03-2017-0023
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited