CLOTHING MATERIAL RESEARCH
The longevity of a garment begins with the material. We examine how fabrics withstand daily use - repeated wear and care - and how they retain their shape, colour, and texture over time. We evaluate the technical properties of materials and how they are affected by care, as these factors determine whether a garment remains functional and aesthetically stable. Our research also includes assessing the environmental footprint of materials using the LCA method and analyzing their recycling potential. The goal is to select fabrics that last longer in real-world use - and have the potential for reuse even after their primary function has ended.
Methodology and Tested Properties
Under laboratory conditions, we evaluate resistance to pilling, abrasion, fading, and dimensional changes after washing. It turns out that people stop wearing clothes mainly when the material begins to show visible signs of aging, not when it physically fails. Fabrics that maintain a consistent appearance encourage long-term wear and proper care can extend their lifespan by up to a third.
Figure Notes - Abrasion and pilling resistance testing
100% wool, waffle weave, 1000 x RPM, 2000 x RPM, 5000 x RPM, 7000 x RPM
LCA: How Use Affects the Environmental Footprint
Life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that the greatest environmental impact does not occur during the production of clothing, but during its use. Washing, drying, and ironing can account for a significant portion of the carbon footprint. Lowering the washing temperature, air-drying, and limiting ironing can significantly reduce emissions; however, the length of use itself has an even greater impact. A T-shirt worn 50 times has a carbon footprint nearly 90 % lower than a T-shirt discarded after five uses. LCA thus confirms that the most environmentally friendly is, above all, what we use for a long time.
Graph Notes - The Impact of Washing and Care Methods on the Carbon Footprint
Y – Relative Emissions of CO2 [%]
Graph Notes - The Impact of the Number of Times a T-shirt Is Used On Its Relative Carbon Footprint
Y – Relative Carbon Footprint [%], X – Number of Uses of a T-shirt
Recycling Scenarios
We are also exploring ways to restore value to materials at the end of their useful life. Mechanical recycling breaks down textiles into new raw materials, allowing them to be used in nonwoven textiles, insulation, or for re-spinning yarns. Chemical recycling goes deeper—it breaks down materials down to the level of polymers or cellulose, enabling the creation of new fibers of the same quality. This "fiber-to-fiber" approach is key to the future circular textile industry, but it currently faces a number of limitations: high energy consumption, chemical impact, and the shortening of macromolecules. However, both types of recycling demonstrate that textiles can have a second life — provided they are properly designed, made of pure materials, and appropriately sorted.
