Notes lesson 1
What is performance/functional textiles?
Performance fabrics are fabrics engineered (manipulated) for a wide variety of uses where
the performance of the fabric is the major parameter. Performance fabrics may be used in
for all active wear, sportswear, summer and winter wear, mountain activities, work wear, in
military, as well as urban wear and protective wear.
Fashion vs. sportswear
Fashion Sportswear
1 Style Performance
2 Fashion trends Functional trends
3 Focus on generic quality testing Focus on functional quality testing
standards standards
4 Wearability Washability
5 Daily use Sport specific use
,Most important characteristics?
- Comfort: “A state of physical ease & freedom from pain or constraint”
- Freedom of movement
- Fit (functionality)
Speedo
Fastskin FS-PRO, the fastest, and most powerful lightweight suit on the market. The world’s
most technically advanced swimsuit, the LZR racer. The suit mimics the shark skin.
,Swimsuits for the pool and open water swimming competitions with
temperature above 18C.
Design
Decency: the wearing of the swimsuit shall not offend morality and good taste (in particular,
but not exclusively, because of the cut of the suit and body parts exposure whether covered
or not).
Surface covered (shape);
For swimsuits used in pool swimming competitions:
Men’s swimsuits shall not extend above the navel or below the knee. Women’s swimsuits
shall not cover the neck or extend past the shoulders, or below the knee.
For swimsuits used in open water swimming competitions:
Men’s and Women’s swimsuits shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, or extend
below the ankle.
Composition/other items
Men’s swimsuits are in one piece. Subject to observance of the decency rule and limitations
of the body surface covered, women’s swimsuits may be in one or two pieces. Other items
covering the body that are not part of the swimsuit are prohibited.
Colours
To avoid any doubt, colours will not be considered as part of the design. Colours can vary
freely. However, colour variations shall not affect compliance with any criteria and tested
values.
Material (general)
Health: The material used must not put the health of the athletes at risk.
Type of material: the material used for swimsuits can be only "Textile Fabric(s)". For the
purpose of these rules, this is defined as material consisting of, natural and/or synthetic
individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting,
and/or braiding.
Surface treatment of the textile fabric: any material added on to the surface of the textile
fabric (any part thereof) or processing of the same (e.g. coating, printing, impregnation,
heating, calendaring etc.) shall not close the overall open mesh structure of the base textile
fabric. The treated material shall further comply with all requirements in particular in regard
to thickness, permeability and flexibility which must be and remain complied with, both at
production stage until finished product stage and when the swimsuits are in actual use. The
rules regarding surface treatment do not apply to seams (sawn, welded, taped, glued, etc.),
markings (manufacturer and/or sponsor logos as permitted by the applicable competition
rules: printed or affixed on the base material) or labels7 (technical labels as permitted by the
rules).
Flexibility: the material shall be flexible and soft folding.
Regular flat material: The material shall be regular and flat. The material shall not form
outstanding shapes or structures, such as scales. A thickness variation of the material is
, permitted provided the thinnest point should not be less than 50% of the thickest point. The
overall thickness limitation (0.8mm) shall in any event be respected at the thickest point(s).
Variation of colours: Variation of colours of the same material is possible as long as the
colouring does not affect compliance with tested value limits. Manufacturers are fully
responsible to ensure that requirements in respect of all tested values (permeability,
thickness, etc.) are respected in any colour variation.
Outside application: No outside application shall be added on the material.
Variety of materials: Different materials may be used in one swimsuit provided all materials
are textile fabrics as defined above and the swimsuit complies with all other criteria.
Combination/inside layer: A combination of maximum two layers of materials is permitted.
The combination of layers shall not create outstanding shape(s) or structure(s). An inside
layer of material can be used notably for comfort, protection of sensitive parts or decency.
Permeability and thickness of layered materials shall be measured on both layers as
combined together and the combination of layers must thus comply with thickness and
permeability requirements as set forth in these rules in all parts of the swimsuit.
Material (measured values)
Thickness: The total thickness of material/s used shall have a maximum value of 0.8mm. The
thickness of layered materials is the total thickness of both layers measured together. It is
clarified that this maximum thickness does not apply to seams as far as the seams are
functional, and their thickness and width result from their natural functions. The
measurement procedure for thickness is described in exhibit 1.
Buoyancy: The swimsuit shall not have a. The measurement procedure for buoyancy is
described in exhibit 2.
Permeability: material(s) used must have at any point (except on seamsbuoyancy effect
above 0.5 Newton measured after application of vacuum, logos or labels) a permeability
value of more than 80 l/m2/second. Permeability values are measured on material with a
standard multidirectional stretch of 25 %. However, measures on material which cannot be
significantly stretched will be carried out on unstretched, flattened material. Permeability of
layered materials is the permeability of both layers measured together. The measurement
procedure for permeability is described in exhibit 3
4.1.6. Construction
No zippers or other fastening system is allowed.
Seams8 shall be limited to functional systems and shall not create outside shapes. Use of
seams (notably number, overall length, and disposition) shall not affect compliance with the
criteria set forth herein.
External stimulation or influence: swimsuits which include any system providing external
stimulation or influence of any type, including pain reduction, chemical/medical substance
release, electro stimulation etc. are prohibited.