Hohenstein Institute believes in body mapping
23/03/2011
Body mapping will help finished product companies make clothing more comfortable by using different textile materials for different parts of a garment, so making sportswear that has special "comfort zones" where it needs them most.
"To meet the various different requirements for moisture wicking, insulation and weatherproofing, sportsmen and women have often had to wear several layers of clothing on top of each other," the Hohenstein Institute said on releasing details of its research. "Innovative textile structures should make this unnecessary in future."
As well as providing the best possible temperature and moisture regulation, in relation to the ambient climate and the activity, textiles should also take skin sensory aspects into account in the interests of comfort, it continued.
The research team, led by Dr Jan Beringer, has developed a sample prototype of a top with comfort zones based on the principle of body mapping, aimed specifically at cycling and running. Requirements differ depending on the type of
sport, the garment or part of the body involved and the weather conditions. Of critical importance here was the composition of the materials, finding where it would make sense to use synthetic fibres, hygroscopic natural fibres (natural fibres such as wool, which can absorb a great deal of moisture without making you feel wet), or a mixture of fibres.
An investigation measuring sticking index, wetting index, surface index, number of contact points between textile and skin, and stiffness concluded that the greatest benefit is gained from using innovative fabric structures on which the surface can be modified depending on the requirement.
Dr Beringer concluded: "We have created a starting point for innovative products with tremendous customer benefits and
well thought-through functionality."
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