Development of woven stretch fabrics and analysis on handle,stretch, and pressure comfort

Twelve stretchable fabrics are woven in two sets with one set in 50^s and 60^s 100% cotton in warp and 40^s, 50^s, and 60^s cotton core spun lycra yarn in weft and another set with 2/75 and 2/120?Nm silk in warp with 40^s, 50^s, and 60^s cotton core spun lycra yarn in weft. Hundred percent cotton sari blouse materials commercially available in the market are also included for a comparative study of pressure distribution between cotton core spun lycra fabrics and cotton blouse materials. The influence of fabric specification on total hand value (THV), stretch properties, and pressure comfort is analyzed. The effects of body shape and fabric mechanical properties on garment pressure are also analyzed. The results indicated that the finer counts of cotton core spun lycra woven with cotton and silk to elasticize fabrics provided improved hand feel, stretch, and pressure comfort values. The average pressure value of the samples at the major pressure points with the cotton/cotton core spun lycra samples and silk/cotton core spun lycra samples is lower than 100% cotton samples’ fabric physical properties, stretch properties, mechanical properties, and THV significantly influenced the pressure distribution and comfort of garments.