FABRIC HISTORY
Natural fabric have been used for apparel and home
fashion for thousands of years,
with the use of wool going back over 4,000 years. In
comparison, the man-made fabric
industry began with the first commerical production of
rayon in 1910.
For those old enough to remember the 50's and 60's, this
was when there was a great
deal of technology happening in the man-made fabric industry.
And the technology
continues even today. Microfabrics, fabrics finer than
the finest silk,were developed in
1989 and lyocell, was developed in 1993. Today, many
man-made fabric, including
polyester have been developed into beautiful fabrics
that are being used by major
designers.
MANUFACTURED FABRICS
It is important
to understand that all manufactured fabrics
are not alike. Each
fabric has a unique composition and it's
own set of physical
properties. The U. S. Federal Trade
Commission has established
generic names and
definitions for
manufactured fabrics, including acetate,
acrylic, lyocell,
modacrylic, nylon, polyester,
polypropylene (olefin),
rayon, and spandex. However, all
fabrics under a
generic name are not exactly the same.
fabric producers
have been able to modify the basic
composition of each
generic fabric, both chemically and
physically, to produce
variations which provide a softer
feel, greater comfort,
brighter/longer lasting colors, better
warmth/cooling,
moisture transport/wicking, and better
properties for blending
with other fabrics. These improved
fabrics are given
a trademark name and are owned and
promoted by the
fabric producer. The following is a list of
producers of manufactured
fabrics and their trademark
names.
fabric PRODUCTION & BLENDING
Most of you are at least generally
familiar with
the source and production of
natural fabrics.
Therefore, the primary focus
of
this section is on
the production of manufactured
fabrics. A
discussion is also presented
concerning the
blending of both manufactured
and natural fabrics.
It should be kept in mind that
the process for
developing each manufactured
fabric has been
carefully selected to produce
a fabric with specific
characteristics important to
its use in
fabrications for apparel, home
fashion and other
textile products.
Distinction Between
Cellulosic and
Non-Cellulosic fabrics
Regarding the production of
manufactured fabrics,
a distinction should be made
between cellulosic
and non-cellulosic fabrics.
Four manufactured
fabrics, rayon, acetate, triacetate
and lyocell, are
cellulosic fabrics. This means
that one of the
components used in their production
is natural
cellulose. Cellulose is wood
pulp, generally
obtained from trees. All of
the remaining
manufactured fabrics are non-cellulosic,
which
means they are entirely chemically-based.
Production Chart for Acetate
To illustrate how man-made fabrics
are produced,
below is a chart showing the
production process
for acetate fabric. Keep in
mind that most
manufactured fabrics go through
similar
processes in their development.
The production
steps include:
A chemical
process, shown on the left side
of the chart,
which prepares and combines
the components
used.
A spinning
process, shown on the right,
which produces
the fabric.
A twisting
process, which twists the fabric into
yarn.
The twisted
yarn is then packaged and sent
to the textile
mills to be either woven or
knitted into
fabric.
Discussion of the fabric
Production Process
It is not intended to go into
all the technical details
in this presentation. However,
some of the key
parts of manufactured fabric
production are useful
to understand in a little more
detail---namely, the
spinning process and the process
for making
filament and staple fabrics.
The difference
between filament and staple
fabrics is important to
understand when discussing the
blending of one
or more fabrics together.
Initial Process
In their original state, the
various components of
manufactured fabrics are solids.
In order to be
extruded into fabrics, the fabric-forming
substances
must first be converted into
a liquid state. To
accomplish this they are dissolved
in a solvent or
melted. If they can't be dissolved
or melted
directly, they are chemically
converted so they
can be. The cellulosic fabrics
(rayon, acetate,
triacetate and lyocell) come
from purified wood
pulp, which first must be shredded
and then
dissolved.
Spinning Process - The
Spinneret
Before being formed into fabrics,
the
fabric-producing substance for
all manufactured
fabrics is in a thick liquid
state. In the spinning
process this liquid is forced
through a spinneret,
which resembles a large shower
head. A
spinneret can have from one
to literally hundreds
of tiny holes. The size of the
holes varies
according to the size and type
of the fabric being
produced.
Unlike natural fabrics, manufactured
fabrics can be
extruded in different thicknesses.
This is called
denier. Denier is a term you
may have heard,
and essentially relates to the
fineness of the fabric
filament. For example, a twelve
(12)-denier
monofilament is commonly used
in sheer
pantyhose, and a circular double-knit
is about
140-denier.
Filament fabric
As the thick liquid is forced
through the spinneret,
what comes out on the other
side is a stringy
liquid called filament. This
stringy liquid is similar
to airplane glue, which is a
liquid acetate product.
When the filament dries or solidifies,
it forms
what is called a continuous
filament fabric.
Strands of continuous filament
fabrics are then
twisted together to form a continuous
filament
yarn, which is then woven or
knit into fabric.
Staple fabrics and Blending
The long continuous filament
fabrics can't be used
for blending because they're
too long and too
difficult to handle. Also, natural
fabrics, such as
wool and cotton, with which
many manufactured
fabrics are blended, are very
short. Therefore,
before blending, man-made fabrics
are first cut
into short fabrics, called staple
fabrics. The staple
fabrics can more easily be twisted
with the shorter
natural fabrics, or with staple
fabrics of another
manufactured fabric.
Staple fabrics are created by
extruding many
continuous filaments of specific
denier from the
spinneret and collecting them
in a large bundle
called a "tow". A tow may contain
over a million
continuous filaments. The tow
bundle is then
crimped, in much the same way
a curling iron is
used to crimp a woman's hair,
and is then
mechanically cut into staple
fabrics, usually
ranging in length from 1 to
6-1/2 inches,
depending how they are to be
used.
Purposes of Blending
Blending of different fabrics
is done to enhance
the performance and improve
the aesthetic
qualities of fabric. fabrics
are selected and
blended in certain proportions
so the fabric will
retain the best characteristics
of each fabric.
Blending can be done with either
natural or
manufactured fabrics, but is
usually done using
various combinations of manufactured
fabrics or
manufactured and natural fabrics.
For example, polyester is the
most blended
manufactured fabric. Polyester
fabric is strong,
resists shrinkage, stretching
and wrinkles, is
abrasion resistent and is easily
washable. Blends
of 50 to 65% polyester with
cotton provides a
minimum care fabric used in
a variety of shirts,
slacks, dresses, blouses, sportswear
and many
home fashion items A 50/50 polyester/acrylic
blend is used for slacks, sportswear
and
dresses. And, blends of polyester
(45 to 55%)
and worsted wool creates a fabric
which retains
the beautiful drape and feel
of 100% wool, while
the polyester adds durability
and resistance to
wrinkles.
FABRIC CHARACTERISTICS
A lot of you are probably familiar
with some of the
important characteristics of
the common textile
fabrics. However, others may
not understand the
difference between manufactured
fabrics. For
example, do you know the advantages
of say,
acetate, acrylic and polyester?
When working with
or selling textile products,
it is important to
understand the characteristics
of the fabrics used
in the fabrications you deal
with. All fabrics are not
the same, and their properties
and advantages
can vary widely.
To help you better understand
fabrics, the following
summarizes the important characteristics
and end
uses of the major fabrics used
in apparel and
home fashion.
Index of fabrics
Acetate
Acrylic
Cotton
Linen
Lyocell
Microfabrics
Mohair
Nylon
Polyester
Polyolefin
(Olefin)
Rayon
Silk
Spandex
Triacetate
Wool
ACETATE
Cellulosic-based, from wood
pulp or cotton linters
Characteristics:
Luxurious appearance
Crisp or soft hand
Wide range of colors; dyes and
prints well
Excellent drapeability and softness
Shrink, moth, and mildew resistant
Low moisture absorbency, relatively
fast drying
No pilling problem, little static
problem
Most acetate garments require
dry-cleaning
Major End Uses:
Apparel- Blouses, dresses, linings,
special
occasion apparel,
Home Fashion - Draperies, upholstery,
curtains,
bedspreads
Acetate is a "dry clean only"
fabric. However,
again, read the label, because
many of the new
acetate circular knits, which
have been out on the
market for a few years, are
hand washable. So
far, there is no washable woven
acetate available
in the marketplace.
Comments - There are a couple
of important
characteristics to keep in mind.
Acetate takes
color extremely well, and it's
also very soft and
drapeable. For the past 10 years,
Celanese has
been blending acetate with a
wide variety of
fabrics. They have also been
experimenting with
different knitting and weaving
techniques, which
has resulted in the development
of a variety of
fabrics, that have become suitable
for many
markets. Prior to these developments,
the major
uses for acetate in apparel
were as a liner in
coats, jackets, blazers, etc.,
and as a major fabric
in special occasion dresses,
because the acetate
velvets, crepes, taffetas, and
satins were ideal for
this market. But because of
the new fabric
developments, acetate has been
elevated up to
the designer level with many
major designers like
Georgio Armani and Oscar De
la Renta using
acetate in their lines.
Return to Index.
ACRYLIC
Man-made
Characteristics:
Light-weight, soft, warm with
a wool-like hand
Dyes to bright colors with excellent
fastness
Outstanding wickability
Machine washable, quick drying
Resilient; retains shape; resists
shrinkage, &
wrinkles
Flexible aesthetics for wool-like,
cotton-like or
blended appearance
Excellent pleat retention
Resistant to moths, oil and
chemicals
Superior resistance to sunlight
degradation
Static and pilling can be a
problem
Major End Uses:
Apparel - sweaters, socks, fleece,
circular knit
apparel, sportswear, childrenswear
Home Fashion - Blankets, throws,
upholstery,
awnings, outdoor furniture,
rugs/floor coverings
Comments - Acrylic is a soft
drapeable fabric
which provides warmth without
being heavy, and it
takes color beautifully. Although
acrylic has
traditionally been a fall/winter
fabric, with a
wonderful resemblance to wool,
Monsanto's
product development department
has recently
developed some light weight
circular knits and
blends which lend themselves
to trans-seasonal
dressing as well. Acrylic is
comfortable to wear. It
feels like wool. Yet, it is
easy care and is machine
washable or dry cleanable.
Return to Index.
COTTON
Natural, Cellulosic
Characteristics:
Comfortable
Soft hand
Absorbent
Good color retention, prints
well
Machine-washable, dry-cleanable
Good strength
Drapes well
Easy to handle and sew
Major End Uses:
Apparel - Wide range of wearing
apparel:
blouses, shirts, dresses, childrenswear,
activewear, separates, swimwear,
suits, jackets,
skirts, pants, sweaters, hosiery,
neckwear.
Home Fashion - curtains, draperies,
bedspreads, comforters, throws,
sheets, towels,
table cloths, table mats, napkins
Return to Index.
LINEN
Natural, Made from flax, a vegetable
fabric
Characteristics:
Comfortable
Good strength, twice as strong
as cotton
Hand-washable or dry-cleanable
Crisp hand
Tailors well
Absorbent
Dyes and prints well
Lightweight to heavyweight
No static or pilling problems
Fair abrasion resistant
Major End Uses:
Apparel - dresses, suits, separates,
skirts,
jackets, pants, blouses, shirts,
childrenswear.
Home Fashion - curtains, draperies,
upholstery,
bedspreads, table linens, sheets,
dish towels.
Return to Index.
LYOCELL
Man-made, cellulosic-based
Characteristics:
Excellent strength
Washable
Shrink- and wrinkle-resistant
Soft hand
Excellent drape
Absorbent
Dyes and prints well
Major End Uses:
Apparel - dresses, suits, sportswear,
pants,
jackets, blouses, skirts.
Comments - This is the newest
cellulosic fabric,
and a new brand name that you
may have seen
recently is Tencel®. This
fabric is cellulosic, and it
is very similar to rayon in
appearance. The major
difference between lyocell and
rayon is that lyocell
is much more durable and has
a much stronger
wet strength. It is also machine
washable and
dryable.
Return to Index.
MICROfabricS
Man-made: available in acrylic,
nylon, polyester
and rayon.
Characteristics:
Ultra fine (less than 1.0 dpf),
finer than the most
delicate silk
Extremely drapeable
Very soft, luxurious hand with
a silken or suede
touch
Washable, dry cleanable
Shrink-resistant
High strength (except Rayon)
Excellent pleat retention
Insulates well against wind,
rain and cold
Major End Uses:
Apparel - hosiery, blouses,
dresses, separates,
sportswear, ties, scarves, menswear,
intimate
apparel, activewear, swimwear,
outerwear,
rainwear.
Home Fashion - curtains, draperies,
upholstery,
sheets, towels, blankets.
Comments - Micro-fabrics is the
only fabric that's
really not a fabric unto itself.
Rather, it is a
technology that has been developed
to produce
an ultra-fine fabric, and then
weave it or knit it into
a very high quality fabric constructions.
Originally,
when DuPont introduced the first
microfabric in
1989, it was a polyester microfabric.
However,
today in addition to polyester
microfabrics, there
are also nylon microfabrics
that have become
important in the pantyhose market,
rayon
microfabrics, and acrylic microfabrics.
One of the important characteristics
of microfabric
fabrics is that they can be
woven so tightly that the
fabric can't be penetrated by
wind, rain, or cold.
For this reason, raincoat manufacturers
have
become big users of polyester
microfabrics.
Microfabrics also have a wicking
ability, which
allows perspiration to pass
through. So they're
comfortable to wear.
Return to Index.
MOHAIR
Natural, from angora goats
Characteristics:
Long, lustrous, strong fabric
Luxurious
Soft hand
Most resilient natural textile
fabric
Lightweight, warms, good insulator
Dyes well, brilliant colors
Non-crush, -mat and -pill qualities.
Resists fading
Major End Uses:
Apparel - coats, suits, dresses,
sweaters,
accessories, loungewear, socks.
Home Fashion - blankets, throws,
upholstery,
draperies, carpets, rugs.
Return to Index.
NYLON
Man-made
Characteristics:
Lightweight
Exceptional strength
Good drapeability
Abrasion resistant
Easy to wash
Resists shrinkage and wrinkling
resilient, pleat retentive
Fast drying, low moisture absorbency
Can be precolored or dyed in
a wide range of
colors
Resistant to damage from oil
and many
chemicals
Static and pilling can be a
problem
Poor resistance to continuous
sunlight
Major End Uses:
Apparel - swimwear, activewear,
intimate
apparel, foundation garments,
hosiery, blouses,
dresses, sportswear, pants,
jackets, skirts,
raincoats, ski and snow apparel,
windbreakers,
childrenswear.
Home Fashion - carpets, rugs,
curtains,
upholstery, draperies, bedspreads
Other - Luggage, back packets,
life vests,
umbrellas, sleeping bags, tents.
Comments - Nylon is one of the
strongest of all
fabrics, and for this reason
it's used in garments
that take a great deal of hard
wear, like panty
hose and swimwear.
The most popular fabric blend
used in swimwear
today is nylon and Lycra (or
spandex). Although
nylon is a very strong fabric,
one of it's unfavorable
characteristics is that it has
poor resistance to
prolonged exposure to the sun.
In addition, the
Lycra (or spandex) breaks down
from exposure
to chlorine in pool water. Yet,
there probably aren't
a lot of old, worn out swimsuits
being returned
because the fabric has wore
out. That's because
the customer has learned through
experience that
most swimsuits, if worn a lot,
won't last for much
more than a season or two. So,
in many cases,
when a customer shops for swimwear,
she may
buy as many as two or three
at a time in order to
get herself through just one
season. This is
because she has come to know
what to expect
from these fabrics.
Return to Index.
POLYESTER
Man-made
Characteristics:
Strong
Crisp, soft hand
Resistant to stretching and
shrinkage
Washable or dry-cleanable
Quick drying
Resilient, wrinkle resistant,
excellent pleat
retention (if heat set)
Abrasion resistant
Resistant to most chemicals
Because of its low absorbency,
stain removal
can be a problem
Static and pilling problems
Major End Uses:
Apparel - essentially every
form of clothing,
dresses, blouses, jackets, separates,
sportswear,
suits, shirts, pants, rainwear,
lingerie,
childrenswear
Home Fashion - curtains, draperies,
floor
coverings, fabric fill, upholstery,
bedding.
Comments - This is probably the
fabric that you're
most familiar with, of all the
man-made fabrics. You
are aware that it's the best
wash-and-wear fabric.
Unfortunately, because of the
over-saturation of
polyester 20 to 30 years ago,
some consumers
have acquired a kind of negative
perception about
the fabric. But, what's exciting
today is that, like all
the other man-made fabrics,
new developments in
polyester are beginning to create
a new attitude
towards the fabric. This is
true, not only for
manufacturers and designers,
but also for
consumers. In addition, when
polyester is blended
with other dry-clean only fabrics,
like wool, acetate,
or rayon, the durability of
the blended fabric
improves and, in some cases,
the fabrics can
even be made washable, if the
percentage of
polyester is high enough.
Return to Index.
POLYOLEFIN (OLEFIN)
Man-made
Characteristics:
Lightweight, lightest fabric,
it floats
Strong
Abrasion resistant, resilient
Stain-, static-, sunlight-,
and odor-resistant
High insulation characteristics
Resists deterioration from chemicals,
mildew,
perspiration, rot and weather
Fast drying
High wickability
Color fast, because colors are
incorporated
during fabric forming stage
Spills can be readily wiped
up
Static and pilling can be a
problem
Ironing, washing and drying
need to be done at
low temperature
Non-allergenic
Major End Uses:
Apparel - activewear, sportswear,
jeans, socks,
underwear, lining fabrics.
Home Fashion - indoor and outdoor
carpets,
carpet backing, upholstery,
wall coverings,
furniture and bedding construction
fabrics.
Comments - Of all the fabrics,
this is probably the
one that is least familiar to
you. This is because,
since its development in 1961,
polyolefin has
been used almost exclusively
in the home
furnishings area and the high
performance
activewear market, for such
things as
backpacking, canoeing, and mountain
climbing
apparel. But, within the last
year producers of this
fabric have begun to make in-roads
into the
mainstream apparel market. So,
this is a fabric that
you may be seeing more of going
forward. It is
now being blended with cotton
for use in the denim
market. And, it's also being
tested is in the
swimwear market. In fact, Asics
Japan has
developed a swimsuit made of
a blend of
polyolefin and Lycra, as the
official swimsuit for
the Japanese Olympic Swim Team.
Their main
reason for selecting polyolefin
is that it's the least
absorbent of all the man-made
fabrics, and it's the
only fabric that floats. (Swimmers
will try anything to
cut a milli-second off their
times!)
Return to Index.
RAYON
Man-made, cellulosic-based from
wood pulp
Characteristics:
Soft and comfortable
Drapes well
Highly absorbent
Dyes and prints well
No static, no pilling problems
Fabric can shrink appreciably
if washing
dry-clean-only rayon
Washable or dry cleanable. Read
the label!
Major End Uses:
Apparel - Blouses, dresses,
jackets, lingerie,
linings, millinery, slacks,
sportshirts, sportswear,
suits, ties, work clothes
Home Fashion - bedspreads, blankets,
curtains,
draperies, sheets, slip covers,
table cloths,
upholstery.
Comments - One of the major characteristics
of
rayon, also called viscose,
centers around the
care of the fabric. For those
of you who have
been around rayon a lot, you
know that there are
both washable and "dry clean
only" rayons in the
garments that you sell. Why
are there both
washable and non-washable rayons?
Originally
rayon was a "dry clean only"
fabric. However, the
fabric producers discovered
that they could create
washability in rayon by putting
certain finishes on
the surface of the fabric after
it was knitted or
woven. But this also added to
the price. So, today
many rayons in the marketplace
remain untreated,
and are therefore "dry clean
only".
It's very important to read the
labels, and make
the customer aware that just
because he or she
may have purchased a washable
rayon last week,
that doesn't mean that all rayons
are washable.
Anytime a rayon garment, labeled
"dry clean only",
is washed, a risk is taken,
and one of three things
may happen. First the garment
can shrink
tremendously, sometimes as much
as two or
three sizes. Second, the garment
may fade, or a
printed pattern may bleed. And
third, the fabric
may lose its soft hand. The
rayon that was once
soft and drapeable may become
stiff and harsh.
There's also something important
to remember
when caring for the washable
rayons. Most of the
washable rayon garments today
are labeled "hand
wash, cool water, drip dry or
dry flat". And, it's
important that these directions
are followed,
because when rayon is wet, it
actually loses 30%
to 50% of its strength. So,
hand washing, like the
label says, is the best. The
constant agitation of
the washer, and tumbling of
the dryer will beat the
garment against the side of
the washer and dryer.
And, eventually this causes
the fabric to break
down, and shorten the life of
the rayon garment.
So, in order to get the maximum
life out of your
washable rayon garment, it's
best to hand wash
and drip/hang dry.
Return to Index.
SILK
Natural, animal fabric (silk
worm)
Characteristics:
Soft or crisp hand
Luxurious
Drapes and tailors well
Thinnest of all natural fabrics
Dyes and prints well
Hand-washable or dry-cleanable
Little problem with static,
no pilling problem
Only fair abrasion resistance
Poor resistance to prolonged
exposure to
sunlight
Major End Uses:
Apparel - dresses, blouses,
skirts, jackets,
pants, pants, scarves, ties.
Home Fashion - curtains, draperies,
upholstery.
Return to Index.
SPANDEX
Man-made
Characteristics:
Lightweight
Can be stretched over 500% without
breaking
Able to be stretched repetitively
and still recover
original length
Abrasion resistant
Stronger, more durable than
rubber
Soft, smooth and supple
Resistant to body oils, perspiration,
lotions or
detergents
No static or pilling problems
Major End Uses:
Apparel - articles where stretch
is desired:
athletic apparel, bathing suits,
foundation
garments, ski pants, slacks,
hosiery, socks, belts.
Comments - Lycra is the most
familiar spandex
fabric, and is DuPont's brand
name for its spandex
fabric. An interesting fact
about spandex is that it
was developed as a substitute
for rubber. And,
when it was first introduced
in 1959, it totally
revolutionized the swimwear
and foundations
industry. Although it has poor
strength, it stretches
over 500%. So, the excellent
stretch of spandex
compensates for the fact that
it's a weak fabric.
Return to Index.
TRIACETATE
Man-made
Characteristics:
Luxurious hand
Excellent drapeability
Resilient
Excellent pleat retention
Washable or dry-cleanable
No pilling problem
Can have static problem
Major End Uses:
Apparel - dresses, skirts, sportswear,
robes,
particularly where pleat retention
is important
Comments - This is the only man-made
fabric
discussed today which is not
produced in the
united States. However, both
the appearance and
properties of triacetate are
very similar to those
of acetate. The major difference
is that triacetate
is washable.
Return to Index.
WOOL
Natural, Animal fabric
Characteristics:
Comfortable
Luxurious, soft hand
Versatile
Lightweight
Good insulator
Washable
Wrinkle-resistant
Absorbent
Easy to dye
Major End Uses:
Apparel - sweaters, dresses,
coats, suits,
jackets, pants, skirts, childrenswear,
loungewear,
blouses, shirts, hosiery, scarves.
Home Fashion - carpets, draperies,
upholstery,
blankets.
CARE OF FABRICS
As important as buying the right
fabrication is
understanding how to take proper
care of it. The
following are general care tips
for cleaning and
caring for garments containing
the natural and
manufactured fabrics used in
apparel and home
fashions.
However, always read and follow
the care
instructions and any warnings
in the garment
label.
Index of fabrics
Acetate
Acrylic
Cotton
Linen
Lyocell
Microfabrics
Mohair
Nylon
Polyester
Polyolefin
(Olefin)
Rayon
Silk
Spandex
Triacetate
Wool
ACETATE
Most acetate garments should
be dry-cleaned.
Some knits are washable. If
laundering is
indicated, use the following
guide:
Hand wash in
warm water with mild suds.
Do not twist
or
wring out the garment.
Do not soak
colored items.
Press while
damp on the wrong side with a
cool iron.
if finishing the right side use a
pressing cloth.
Circular knits
should be laid flat to dry.
(For specific instruction refer
to the garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Note: Acetate is adversely affected
by acetone
and other organic solvents,
such as nail polish
remover and perfumes containing
such solvents.
Return to Index
ACRYLIC
Acrylic garments may be washed or dry cleaned.
When machine
washing, use warm water
setting and
add a fabric softener during the
final rinse
cycle.
Machine dry
at low temperature. Remove
from dyer
as soon as garments are dry.
Wash delicate
items by hand in warm water.
Static electricity
can be reduced by using s
fabric softener
in every third or fourth
washing. Gently
squeeze out water, smooth or
shake out
garment and let dry on a non-rust
hangar. Sweaters
and circular knits should be
dried flat.
If ironing
is required, use moderately warm
iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
COTTON
Cotton can
be easily laundered. It can
withstand
high temperatures (boiling water
does not hurt
the fabric).
Any good detergent
can be used to wash
cotton.
Chlorine bleach
can be used safely on cotton
whites. Use
color safe bleach on dyed
cottons.
Since cotton
fabrics are fairly inelastic cotton
fabrics may
wrinkle easily. And, fabric may
need frequent
pressing.
However, cotton
fabric can be treated with a
wrinkle resistant
finish to create a more
resilient
fabric/garment. The label will tell you if
this finish
has been applied.
A higher heat
setting is needed in the dryer to
dry cotton.
Cotton will take much longer to dry
than less
absorbent fabrics.
Cotton can
be ironed with a hot iron, and does
not scorch
easily
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
LINEN
Some linens
are washable, while others are
dry clean
only. Be sure to check the label.
Washable household
linen, handkerchiefs,
and linen
apparel can be washed easily and
become softer
with use.
White linens
should be dried in the sun, if to
help them
to keep their whiteness.
Generally
speaking, dry cleaning is
recommended
for drapery linens, upholstery
linens and
decorative linens.
Linen fabrics
may need frequent pressing,
unless treated
for crease resistance.
(Permanent
press and soil release finishes
are now being
used effectively on 65%
linen/35%
polyester tablecloths, napkins and
placemats.).
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
LYOCELL
Lyocell garments may be either
machine
washable and dryable or drycleanable.
Read the
label.
Washable lyocell
has the strength and ease
of care of
other easy-care fabrics.
Machine wash
and dry at low temperature.
Remove from
dryer as soon as the garment
is dry.
If ironing
is required, use a moderately warm
iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
MICROfabricS
Acrylic, nylon and polyester
microfabrics are
machine washable, machine dryable
or
drycleanable
Follow the instructions for
washing fabrics
consisting of these individual
fabrics.
(For specific instruction refer
to the garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
NYLON
Most items made from nylon can
be machined
washed and tumbled dried at
low temperatures.
Use warm water
and add a fabric softener to
the final
rinse cycle.
To minimize
static electricity use a dyer sheet
when machine
drying.
Remove articles
from the dyer as soon as the
tumbling cycle
is completed.
If ironing
is required, use a warm iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
POLYESTER
Most items made from polyester
can be machine
washed and dried.
Use warm water
and add a fabric softener to
the final
rinse cycle.
Machine dry
at low temperature setting and
remove articles
as soon as the tumbling cycle
is complete.
If ironing
is needed, use a moderately warm
iron.
Most items
made from polyester can be
dry-cleaned.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
POLYOLEFIN (OLEFIN)
Most items can be washed or dry-cleaned.
Most stains
can be readily be removed by
wiping, using
lukewarm water and detergent.
If fabric
is machine washed, it should be line
dried or tumbled
dried with gentle or no heat.
Do not iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
RAYON
Most rayon garments should be
dry-cleaned, but
some types of fabric and garment
construction
are such that they can be hand
or machine
washed. For washable items,
use the following as
a guide:
Use mild lukewarm
or cool suds. Gently
squeeze suds
through the fabric and rinse in
lukewarm water.
Do not wring or twist the
article.
Smooth or
shake out the article and place on
a non-rust
hanger to dry. Rayon sweaters
should be
laid flat to dry.
Press the
article while damp on the wrong
side with
the iron at a moderate setting. If
finishing
on the right side is required, a press
cloth should
be used.
Between wearings,
rayon articles may be
pressed with
a cool iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
SILK
Only pre-washed silk is washable. Read the label!
Dry cleaning
is generally preferred, since
laundering
detergent and dyes in other clothes
may adversely
affect silk fabric.
For washable
silk, follow the care instructions
carefully.
For items
without linings and without
embellishments
attached, careful
handwashing
is permissable, with mild soap
and lukewarm
water.
Chlorine bleach
should never be used on silk.
For long-time
storage, silk should be sealed
against light,
air and insects.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
SPANDEX
Hand or machine
wash in lukewarm water.
Do not use
chlorine bleach on any fabric
containing
spandex. Use a color safe bleach
only.
Rinse thoroughly.
Drip dry.
If machine drying, use low
temperature
setting.
If ironing
is required, iron rapidly and don't
leave the
iron in one place too long. Use a low
temperature
setting on the iron.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
TRIACETATE
Pleated garments
are best hand laundered.
Most other
garments containing 100%
triacetate
can be machine washed.
If ironing
is needed, a high temperature
setting may
be used.
Articles containing
triacetate require little care
due mainly
to the fabric's resistance to high
temperature.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
Return to Index
WOOL
Give wool garments
a 24-hour rest between
wearings.
Hang on shaped or padded
hangers, leaving
lots of space. In general,
wool fabrics
will shed wrinkles and return to
their orginal
shape
Empty pockets,
remove belts and hang with
closures zipped
and buttoned.
Fold knits.
Brush wool
to remove surface soil. Use a
damp sponge
for knits and finer fabrics.
Refresh wool
garments quickly after wearing
or unpacking
by hanging them in a steamy
bathroom.
Moisture from the steam will
remove wrinkles.
If wool gets
wet, dry the garment at room
temperature
away from heat. If there's a nap,
brush with
the nap.
Remove spots
and stains promptly.
Keep moths
away by storing wool with fresh
cedar blocks.
Dry clean
once a season(or when stained),
and especially
before storing.
Always steam
when pressing wool. Use the
wool setting.
Avoid pressing wool totally dry.
When possible,
press on the reverse side of
the fabric.
When necessary to press on the
right side,
use a press cloth to avoid a shine.
Lower and
lift the iron, don't slide it back and
forth. Prevent
imprinting inside detail by
placing a
piece of brown paper or tissue
paper under
folds, seams or darts.
(For specific
instruction refer to the
garment's
sewn-in care label.)
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