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The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether small holes in an impermeable patch at the wrist improve perceived comfort during exercise.

Nine male participants participated in this study. During the experiment, participants cycled 60 W in a hot room (35°C, 30 percent relative humidity) while an impermeable 20 cm² patch was located on the ventral side of one wrist and at the same time a patch of identical shape with 5 mm diameter holes (17.7 percent uncovered) on the other wrist. The participants could not see the patches. Participants were forced to choose which patch they perceived as more comfortable. Chest and arm skin temperature, thermal comfort, thermal sensation and wetness perception were assessed.

Participants preferred 5 mm holes over no holes (p=0.017). Chest skin temperature (p=0.018) but not arm skin temperature correlates with this preference. Thermal comfort, thermal sensation and wetness perception did not differ significantly between patches. It is concluded that patches with 5 mm holes are preferred over impermeable patches during work in the heat in particular when the torso skin is warm.

The wrist is a preferred location for smart wearables. Generally, wrist bands are made of air-impermeable materials leading to sensation of wetness and discomfort. This study has shown that manufacturers should consider to make small holes in their wrist bands to optimize wearing comfort.

New techniques are required to link 3D whole body scans to manufacturing techniques to allow for the mass‐customization of clothes. This study aims to compare two methods of producing skirts based on 3D whole body scans.

Three females participated in the study. They were scanned with an accurate 3D whole body scanner. A set of relevant 1D measures was automatically derived from the 3D scan. The measures were incorporated in a skirt pattern and the skirt was made from jeans material. The second method was based on triangulation of the scanned waist‐to‐hip part. The points in the 3D scan were first converted to triangles and these triangles were thereafter merged with neighboring triangles of similar orientation until about 40 triangles remained. These triangles were sewn together to form a “patchwork”‐skirt. All females performed fit tests afterwards.

The fit of the 3D‐generated patchwork skirt was much better than the fit of the skirt generated by the 1D scan‐derived measures. In the latter case, two of the three skirts were too wide because the scan‐derived hip circumference exceeded the manually derived values. For the 3D generated skirt, it was necessary to enlarge the triangles with a factor of 1.025 to achieve optimal fit.

As far as is known, this is the first study that reports a direct conversion of a 3D scan to clothing without interference of clothing patterns. The study shows that it is possible to generate a fitting patchwork skirt based on 3D scans; the intermediate step of using 1D measures derived from 3D scans is shown to be error‐prone.

The challenge for companies selling clothing over the internet is to combine a minimal requested effort of the visitor in entering (body) information with low‐percentage no‐fit returns. The purpose of this paper is to present a method that converts self‐reported information to individual adjustments of a female blouse.

In total, 48 Belgian females participated in the study. Age, height, weight and bra size were the inputs for blouse sizing as well as the subjective assessment of hip and waist size and arm length. All subjects were accurately measured and the relationship between eight essential body dimensions for blouse design (neck, bust, waist, hip and wrist circumference, arm and back length and shoulder length) and the simple inputs was determined. All subjects fitted a blouse, the size of which was determined by bust circumference, and the necessary alterations to optimize fit were recorded.

The subjective information provided for hip and waist shape was related to the measured hip and waist circumference (r=0.68 and r=0.79, respectively). The relationship for arm length measurements was less (r=0.38). The self‐reported values enabled a fairly good prediction of the essential body dimensions (r ranged from 0.65 to 0.97). The suggested alterations during the fit test were well related to the difference between the essential body dimensions and sizing chart data. The fit of the resized blouse was judged positively by all but one subject.

The authors are not aware of similar studies reporting a statistical method to establish a stepwise link between self‐reported data and blouse dimensions. The method may be helpful to improve fit of garments sold over the internet.

Examines the thirteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.