Functional Design of Tri-Laminated Wool Fabrics Improving Comfort Properties

Abstract

Considering textiles and clothing, current trends are focused on increasing the technicality of the products, with more alert and demanding consumers, looking for functional products such as workwear, sportswear, or day-life clothing, which combine aesthetics and innovation, design, protection, comfort, multifunctionality, ease care, sustainability, and competitive price. The result of social change focused on a healthier lifestyle and activewear is a growing demand. The TexBoost Project – Less Commodities More Specialities, PPS 2 "New fabrics for high-performance applications based on natural fibres" seeks to respond to these challenges and trends through the development of technologically advanced products and processes that enable companies to grow in the value chain and penetrate in more competitive market niches. This work aims to present some results that identify the main innovative characteristics and advancements considering the new fabrics for high-performance applications based on natural fibres, focusing on the development of multifunctional wool fabrics and laminated textile structures for leisurewear products. Comfort needs to be considered as an important factor considering the development of clothing. Taking into account the evaluation of the performance of the main comfort properties, the laboratory tests performed were the resistance to water penetration (hydrostatic pressure), the air permeability and skin model tests.