BLOG 2- Fabric Evaluations, Sustainability, and Classifications
In this week's textiles lectures, the main focus was learning the differences in fabrics and how one evaluates fabric as well as fabric sustainability.
Moving on to Fabric and Sustainability; it still focuses on standards, certifications, and ratings but more on the sustainability aspect of it. Sustainability is huge in the fabric industry because it allows less toxic products to be used and focuses on the health of the environment. Additionally, when organizations establish sustainability standards, they consider international environmental awareness, finishes and after treatments, indoor air quality, reuse and recycling of textile products, and organic fibers. The life-cycle inventory is a good way to review if a fabric is sustainable based on the resources the product is used from, the processes and manufacturing of the making the fabric, the way the product is distributed, and the way the product is used. These factors all relate to the sustainability of a fabric which is why it's important that each stage of the life cycle is being assessed when determining the rate of sustainability the product has. The diagram to the right gives a visual of the life cycle assessment and the different stages in order.
Fibers are identified by common and generic names for disclosure on a sample or product label. There are two different types of fibers- natural and manufactured. Natural fibers are plant, animal, and mineral bases; their identifications are made by their centuries-old common family names. Manufactured fibers are made synthetically and are given their generic names or classes by the Federal Trade Commission. Fabric is also separated by its molecular structure (monomers and polymers) and arrangement (amorphous and oriented). Last to be discussed are fiber properties and property types. Fiber properties are the way the fabric is performed and used. Aesthetic, appearance retention, comfort, and health all contribute to determining the performance of the fabric and the end-use of the fabric.
When recycling plastic, it is taken to a central processing location and then the caps are removed and bottles are separated by color. After being separated, the bottles are cleaned to remove any bacteria. After the plastic is cleaned, it is dried and shredded into small flakes by a machine that is run by renewable energy. Once the plastic is turned into flakes, they are melted and squeezed into yarn. The yarn is too thin so it is spun into thread which then is woven into fabric rolls.
Beginning with Fabric Performance and Evaluation, there are many different standards, certifications, ratings, guidelines, and codes. While these evaluations are similar to an extent they are also very different. Standards outline specific material performances, characteristics, and behaviors. The method of standard testing is done by organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Certifications are given to the products if they have met criteria based on standards. Rating is a method ranked based on a scale, guidelines, or standards. The rating method can be seen in organizations such as LEED and WELL. LEED uses a 1-100 scale while WELL uses a 1-10 scale. Guidelines are recommendations established by professional organizations. The Association of Contract Textiles provides most guidelines in the textile field due to their performances on flammability, colorfastness to light, and abrasion resistance. Lastly, codes are laws put into place by the government. The government receives building codes and regulations through organizations such as the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Additionally, codes also come from regulatory agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
ONE STEP FURTHER
It is important for designers to evaluate the life cycle assessment of a product to really know if a product is sustainable. I chose to look at how a recycled plastic bottle turns into a textile application to dive deeper into the life cycle assessment.
EXTRA SOURCES
How Plastic Bottles are Recycled into Polyester-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyF9MxlcItw
Classifications of Fiber Textiles-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNC1fK6GjF4
Izzy,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog, and thought you did a really good job. The summary of the material for the week is clear, concise, and yet still dives deep. You explained the difference between standards, codes, etc. very well and gave good examples for all of them. I also enjoyed your section on the life-cycle assessment as well, as that not something that I talked about as much in mine. It was actually something that I didn't understand as well, so your summary was helpful.
I also thought that all your images were very helpful in supporting the blog.
I also really like that you chose to look more into plastic bottle recycling in the Textile industry, and I thought it was very interesting. Here is actually a plastic bottle recycling initiative in India that I found which is a cool practical example of how it is impacting communities: https://www.bisleri.com/bottles-for-change?city_id=8
Once again, good job!