DON’T GUESS, IDENTIFY
Decoding Fabric Content: A Guide to Identifying Intimate Apparel Fabrics
Intimate apparel, such as lingerie and underwear, often come in various fabrics that can affect their comfort, durability, and performance. As a start-up or entrepreneur in the intimate apparel industry, it’s crucial to be able to identify the fabric content of these garments accurately. One common method to determine the fabric content is through performing a burn test. Let’s take a closer look at how to identify fabric content in intimate apparel using the burn test and other characteristics.
PERFORMING THE BURN TEST TO IDENTIFY FABRIC CONTENT
The burn test is a simple yet effective way to identify fabric content in intimate apparel. Here’s how you can do it:
- Cut Small Swatches: Start by cutting small swatches, about two inches (5 cm) square, from each fabric you want to test.
- Ignite a Corner: Place a swatch in a fireproof container and ignite a corner of the fabric using a lighter or a matchstick. Pay close attention to the odor of the smoke and the characteristics of the ashes after they’ve cooled.
- Observe the Smoke and Ashes: Different fabrics produce different smoke and ashes during the burn test. For example:
- Cotton: Cotton usually smells like burning paper and produces soft and fine ashes that turn to dust when touched.
- Wool/Silk: Wool and silk fibers may produce an odor similar to burning hair or feathers. Wool ashes are black and brittle remnants that crush between your fingers.
- Cotton/Polyester Blend: A fabric that is a blend of cotton and polyester may produce a darkish plume of smoke that smells like chemicals or burning plastic, and the ashes are hard lumps of melted synthetic fibres.
- Observe Fiber Behavior: Unravel a clump of threads from another small swatch of the fabric and hold it with tweezers over your fireproof container. Slowly move a small flame towards the clump to observe the behavior of the fibers. Cotton fibers will ignite, while synthetic fibers tend to curl away from the heat and melt.
It’s essential to note that some fabrics, such as linen and rayon, may be mistaken for cotton. Linen burns more slowly, while rayon still burns after the flame is removed, and it does not produce an afterglow like cotton.
IDENTIFYING NATURAL FIBRES
Natural fibers are derived from plants or animals, and they tend to burn differently than synthetic fibers. Here are some identifying characteristics to keep in mind:
- Cotton, Hemp, and Linen: Burn but do not melt. They produce the odor of burning paper, leaves, or wood, and the residue is a fine, feathery, grey ash.
- Rayon: Rayon may still burn after the flame is removed, but it does not have an afterglow. Its ashes are similar to cotton or paper.
- Silk: It catches fire but doesn’t liquefy. It recoils from the flame, emits a scent of charred meat, and leaves a black, hollow, uneven bead that can be easily crushed into gritty black powder.
- Wool and Other Protein Fibers: Wool fibers usually burn without melting, and they have a strong odor of burning hair. Their ashes are black.
IDENTIFYING SYNTHETIC FIBRES
The majority of synthetic fibres have a tendency to burn and melt, and they typically retract from the fire. Here are some identifying characteristics:
- Polyester: When burned, it gives off black smoke emitting a sweet chemical scent and creates a hard, cream-colored bead that darkens over time.
- Nylon: It gives off a scent reminiscent of celery, and the residue is initially a firm, cream-colored bead that darkens over time.
- Acrylic: Produces a fishy odor and leaves behind a hard, irregularly-shaped bead. It also gives off black smoke when burned.
- Acetate: When acetate is burned, it emits a distinct odor reminiscent of burning paper and vinegar, and leaves behind a solid bead that is hard and dark in color.
- Olefin Fiber: Produces a chemical type odor, and the residue is a hard, tan-colored bead. Flames create black smoke.
- Spandex: When exposed to flame, it both melts and burns without shrinking. It emits a chemical-like scent and leaves behind a soft black ash residue.
Nevertheless, the burn test is an easy, effective and reliable way to identify the fiber content. By examining the behavior of fibers during the test, it’s possible to differentiate between natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, and synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester, acrylic, and others. Undeniably this knowledge can lead to better product quality, increased customer satisfaction, and improved business success.