How do you design and conduct a textile testing plan for a new product development project?

The key to this aspect is: Fitness for purpose. End use is key, will the material perform adequately during its expected lifespan?

Quality: Meet desired standards. Durability: Withstand stress. Colorfastness: Retain color. Dimensional Stability: Preserve size and shape. Comfort and Performance: Assess breathability and moisture management. Safety and Compliance: Meet regulations. Environmental Impact: Evaluate sustainability. Wash and Care: Determine cleaning guidelines. Comparative Analysis: Compare performance. Product Optimization: Identify improvements. Reliability and Consistency: Assess consistent performance. End-User Experience: Enhance satisfaction.

In my experience I agree with the above description but with textile testing comes great responsibility. Before testing a textile it’s production and manufacturing should also be evaluated. During its production, is it a lab manufactured textile or is it created out of natural raw material, which is processed. How are the factories for the workers and how do the factories affect the environment? Is creating this textile beneficial for the environment or harmful? Is it sustainable? All of these aspects should come prior to the testing of the textile itself.

I agree with all that has been noted here, It has been my experience that it is helpful to separate colorfastness testing and physical testing. Failures in physical testing are generally deal breakers while failures in colorfastness can be addressed through color and dyestuff selection.

I thinks, on the top of above testing, we should include test related to fiber and yarn.. Fiber is the basic raw materials of textile. There are two classification of fiber : 1. Natural & 2. Manufactured or many made. Both raw materials have different type of testing criteria. Similar to fiber, we do have many criteria of yarn testing - yarn type, yarn size, twist type, amount of twist e.t.c

Textile testing methods must be selected based on various factors, including the specific properties and characteristics of the textile being tested, the intended end-use of the textile product, and the relevant industry standards and regulations. Some key considerations for selecting textile testing methods include: Material and fiber type: Different textiles may require specific testing methods based on their composition (e.g., cotton, polyester, wool, etc.). Performance requirements: will determine the relevant performance tests, such as tensile strength, abrasion resistance, colorfastness, etc. Regulatory compliance: Quality control and Assurance: Cost and time constraints: Testing equipment availability:

Your customer or market may also require a particular test method to be done. You need to be aware of all customer requirements or particular legal requirements for your market

Select Appropriate Testing Methods: Choose the most suitable testing methods and standards for each parameter. This could involve physical tests using specialized equipment, chemical analysis, visual inspection, or other relevant techniques. Refer to industry standards such as ASTM, ISO, or AATCC for guidance.

I found helpful, however, we can also add the specific criteria on the how to prepare specimen. Specimen or sample - no of sample, size or measurements and other SOP's.

This will probably be done for you in the testing report from the testing house or lab that you are using. However it will only report the result compared with the test standard - it won’t offer any judgement of whether the borderline result will be acceptable or still allow the final product to be fit for purpose. To do this you will will need a skilled textile technologist or you will need to refer to your customer if they have this resource. Or you can take a chance !

Sharing a story of how this article benefits innovators without the textile technical experience. Hernieuw is a textile to textile recycling company in South Africa. We believe in recycling at source using micro factory setup to allow a community to loop in its own textile waste as a resource. The micro factory concept lends itself to slow fashion and artisanal work. We are commercialising textile artistry through technology that works with the available fiber in the immediate community. This means we develop the material first, then decide what it can be used for, then determine the required standards and certification. Then refine the material to standard and if it does not work, opt for other uses until it ticks the required boxes.

Your data and testing results need context for others to interpret how well your material performs. For marketing, it is helpful to compare against industry benchmarks for the same test standard e.g. "Exceeds 50,000 revs. on Martindale Abrasion - Heavy Duty Rating". Also, if there's an incumbent material, using that as your control and visually showing the results before and after for your material and the incumbent is very easy for consumers to interpret. This is often called the "Ours vs. Theirs" comparison - but with increased credibility when you have used a bona fide test standard.

In a world of fast disposable fashion. Manufacturers generally have strict price points to meet from buyers and have on many occasion focused on price rather than quality or longevity of the fabric. This needs to change by both sides. Manufacturers need to focus on using better sustainable fabrics intended for longer wearability and buyers need to understand there is an additional cost based in doing this. Whilst generation Z is buying more and more vintage clothing whether it be that lovely pair of Levi’s 501 jeans or that Macintosh trench, the fact is there will be no more vintage to buy 10 years from now.

As the head Textile Designer and Creative Director at a wholesale fabric company in LA for almost a decade, we do most of the testing for you! We test all of our fabrics for colorfastness, stretch, shrinkage, recovery and abrasion before they’re even shipped to our warehouse. So most testing should be taken care of for you if you’re purchasing from a reputable textile supplier. If you need additional / specialty testing, textest.com is a good domestic resource. We (as well as most fabric vendors) should have all their certifications on file as well. All you need to do is ask for the info it’s a question I get on a daily basis for sure and am happy to provide my clients with all the test reports and certifications we hold upon request.

When designing and conducting a textile testing plan for a new product development project, sustainability must remain at the forefront.By prioritizing eco-friendly materials and ethical practices,we can reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact and pave the way for a more responsible future.Incorporating recyclable and biodegradable textiles, optimizing water usage,and analyzing the carbon footprint are essential steps towards sustainable textile testing.Embracing sustainable practices not only benefits the planet but also resonates with conscious consumers, driving positive change in the industry.Let us unite in fostering sustainable fashion choices and lead the way towards a more environmentally responsible and prosperous future

I can not agree with Mr Michael more. This is problem of high quality fabric and low price order. 20 years ago a best selling pure linen item is 175gsm, then density was looser and looser every year. Now 155gsm one becomes standard item. Gresham's Law. Is not it? Testing results of tearing, abrasion, Tensile are just so so. In fact, quality is not good at all. I really hate this. Consumers deserve good quality linen shirts as they pay a lot. Fair trade is not just a slogan of famous brands.

We've found that quantified durability testing (e.g. Martindale, ICI Pill-box, Seam strength), has been the most worthwhile investment. First, it provides QA & QC to ensure we choose durable materials in development, and reduces warranty claims. Second, it shows customers that they can get better "Value($) per Wear", and is a tangible, quantifiable proof point of quality. Third, for sustainability-minded customers extending the lifespan of a garment is one of the most important dimensions of reducing its overall "Emissions per Wear" (in addition to material and transport emissions). If you have a limited budget for testing, I suggest starting with durability tests as they support development decisions but also marketing storytelling.