You risk having your textile ruined by fabric shrinking. And they’ll be the most disgruntled clients you’ve ever had. With textile sourcing in Dubai, you should know fabric shrinking and its working mechanism.
If you’re unfamiliar with fabric shrinking, let me explain. To what extent is it avoidable, and what measures you already did? What follows is a complete and comprehensive explanation.
What is fabric shrinkage
The term “fabric shrinkage” refers to the degree to which an item of cloth loses or gains breadth or length after washing.
Requirement of test fabric shrinkage
There are several situations in which knowing the potential amount of shrinkage a cloth would experience is crucial.
Before beginning production, factories must have confidence in the high quality of the materials they are using.
There is the issue of brand recognition. When cloth shrinks too late in the manufacturing process, not only is time and money lost, but the product itself may be flawed.
Second, the final product will be distort if the cloth shrinks after it has been cut or sewed. In certain cases, puckered seams are an inevitable result. Additionally, a garment’s drape will get alter.
Finally, producers should provide care labels with instructions on how to properly maintain the clothing. These labels will not be correct unless a shrinkage test is done on the cloth.
Mechanism of fabric shrinkage
Fabric shrinkage may get affect by a variety of causes, including:
The raw material
Natural variations in moisture absorption and thermal response across fibre types are well document. This plays an important role in the shrinking of fabrics.
Fabrics made from synthetic fibres or mixed materials seldom shrink in typical wear.
The next best is linen.
Fabrics made of cotton, which can’t withstand hot washing or drying, fall somewhere in the centre.
On the other end of the spectrum, viscose is the fibre most susceptible to shrinking.
Just a few more things to think about… Materials constructed using spandex shrink more quickly than those constructed with other fibres. In addition, woollen clothes are more susceptible to shrinking, thus dry cleaning is the best option for them.
Method of fabrication
A fabric’s shrinkage rate may get impact by its manufacturing process. The methods used in weaving, dying, and finishing may all affect the final product.
Knitted garments tend to shrink more than their woven counterparts. The fabric’s response after washing and drying is also getting impact by the strain that applies to it during manufacture.
Shrinkage may also be affected by the fabric’s density and the yarn’s thickness. As we’ll see, there are ways to treat textiles to minimise shrinking.
How to do test
The AATCC 135, AATCC 158, and ISO 3759 are just a few of the standard shrinkage test procedures that are accepted across the world.
A factory’s official testing lab is a suitable location for these inspections. Testing may also be done at an external lab for a charge; examples of such labs are SGS and Intertek.
However, a fabric shrinkage test may be conducted without a tonne of high-priced equipment. A simple yet reliable shrinkage test may be performed at home.
DIY test
At-home shrinkage tests for fabrics require:
- Washing machine
- Detergent
- Indicative sample of fabric
- A fabric dye pen that uses oil
- Ratio of reduction (It is not required but it will aid in making more precise marks.)
- A measuring device such as a ruler or tape measure
Steps
1. First, have your clothes ready for inspection. Create a 110-by-110-centimetre sample.
2. Place a plus sign (+) in each corner of the swatch, forming a square 100cm (cm) on a side. Markings may done more precisely at this point if a shrinkage scale is used.
3. Finally, wash and dry the cloth sample as directed.
4. Fourth, place the fabric sample on the table without stretching it. The markings you create may now be applicable to determine the exact measurements of the swatch’s length and breadth. Those are the numbers, so jot them down.
How to prevent fabric shrinkage
It is possible to slow down the shrinking process by using a few different processing methods for textiles.
For instance, preshrunk and merchandising. Cotton cloth is the most used material for these treatments.
It is common for synthetic fibres to shrink when exposed to heat. However, heat-setting textiles during Fabric manufacturing may lessen the amount of shrinkage that occurs.
However, expecting no shrinking at all is impractical. There will almost always be shrinking, no matter what fabric you choose or what treatments you put it through.
Tolerance exists in all situations. Of course, the kind of material you’re working with has a significant impact on the tolerance level.
Bottom line
I hope this write-up would have helped you in understanding the shrinking mechanism. Yet, if you want to improve your textile sourcing in Dubai, fabriclore is here to assist you. Also, we have the best team of textile experts with whom you can get the best textile in Dubai.
