Tactile properties of fabrics

The tactile properties of fabrics are the most important features that aff ect the quality of the fi nished products and the decision of the customer when purchasing one. Conventional methods for evaluating the comfort and the impact of the fabric on human senses are based on subjective examination of tactile properties. Among the various properties of fabrics, surface features are those that might contribute most to the individual perception when touching the fabric. The texture of the fabric can be evaluated by sensation of touch (tactile evaluation), sensation of sight (visual evaluation), and on the basis of the two senses combined together (tactile-visual evaluation). One of the goals of this paper is to identify the most appropriate attributes for description of fabrics, and also to indicate some of the contemporary research on prediction of tactile properties of fabrics.