fibre
How a fabric holds warmth
Short answer: It is not the fabric that keeps you warm, but the air trapped inside it. The more small air pockets a g...
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Durability, how it is measured
Short answer: Abrasion resistance is measured by rubbing the fabric against a standard surface a set number of times ...
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Why fabric can turn see through
Short answer: Fabric turns see-through where it is stretched the most. The threads slide apart and larger gaps appear...
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Thin fabric is not the same as weak fabric
Short answer: Strength comes from the quality of the yarn, not from how much fabric there is. A thin fabric made from...
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Weight in grams, what the number tells you
Short answer: Grams per square metre describes how much fabric there is per unit of area. The number tells you about ...
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What makes a fabric soft
Short answer: Softness comes from three things. The surface of the fibre, how finely the yarn is spun, and how loosel...
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Why black fades faster than grey
Short answer: Black needs the most dye, so it has the most to lose. A little fading shows clearly in black, while it ...
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How dye binds to the fibre
Short answer: Dye penetrates the fibre and bonds with it chemically. How well that works decides whether the colour s...
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Fibres and allergy, what we know
Short answer: True allergy to a textile fibre is rare. What most often bothers the skin is dye, finishing treatments ...
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Why wool scratches and bamboo does not
Short answer: Wool fibres have tiny scales on their surface, and those scales can prick the skin and feel like itchin...
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Static electricity in clothes
Short answer: Static builds up when dry fabric rubs against dry fabric. Fibres that absorb moisture carry the charge ...
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What breathability actually means
Short answer: Breathability is a fabric's ability to let moisture escape. It depends both on how densely the fabric i...
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