FTILab+ Research Line: Comfort and Military Projects

The guest lecture covered a variety of research projects and infrastructure related to comfort in textiles, focusing on both military and athletic applications.

One key project involves improving military uniforms by evaluating the fit and comfort through a combination of wear tests and sensorial, ergonomic, and thermophysiological evaluations. The project also explores innovative smart materials, such as cooling vests, to optimize thermal comfort for military personnel. These systems aim to enhance operational capability, with findings published in a thesis by Aysha Schietse in 2022. The research involved a controlled environment, collecting physiological data while subjects performed activities like walking.

Another aspect discussed was tactility, referring to how textiles feel when they come into contact with the skin. Tactility testing includes both subjective (sensory perception) and objective (instrumental) methods, such as the Fabric Touch Tester (FTT), which measures properties like softness, smoothness, and warmth. These aspects of fabric hand are crucial for both military and civilian garments.

The lecture also touched on projects like Smartfit, which uses 3D body scanning to create precise anthropometric data for optimizing fit in clothing, especially for athletes like rowers and cyclists. This is particularly relevant to my interest in pattern making, as the detailed measurements and body mapping can lead to more accurate and comfortable garment designs.

Contact Information:

• FTILab+ Website: FTILab+

• Email: Alexandra.Deraeve@hogent.be (FTILab+)