Introduction
The clothing-manufacturing process can be defined as a method of conversion of a flat two-dimensional structure into a three-dimensional shell structure. Fabric is the basic raw material of the clothing industry. The quality of the fabric influences not only the quality of the garment but also the ease with which a shell structure out of flat fabric can be produced. The fabric specifications for different end-use requirements are different, and the selection of an appropriate fabric is one of the most difficult jobs for the clothing manufacturer. The specifications of fabrics for apparel manufacturing can be considered in terms of primary and secondary characteristics. The primary characteristics are static physical dimensions, and the secondary characteristics are the reactions of the fabric to an applied force. The apparel manufacturer is primarily interested in the secondary characteristics of the fabric. The consumer is mainly interested in appearance, comfort, and wearability of the fabric. The production of garments from high-quality fabrics not only gives comfort to the wearer but also helps in the smooth working of manufacturing processes and leads to defect-free garments (Behera and Hari, 2009, 1990; Behera, 1999). With the advent of high-speed automatic line production systems, the interrelationship between fabric mechanical properties and fabric processability in tailoring has become very important. The selection of manufacturing processes requires selection of machine and process variables based on the specific properties of the fabric being processed. Therefore, it is essential and logical to study various fabric characteristics influencing directly or indirectly the apparel making-up process and finished clothing product performance. This chapter deals with the relationship between some important fabric properties and the making-up process.
The importance of low-stress mechanical properties and fabric formability is also discussed in the context of tailorability. Determination of sewability as a measure of fabric quality assessment for clothing manufacture is discussed in detail.
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