Easy care wool scientists win award
01/12/2008
One of the companies behind the world’s first machine-washable, tumble-dryable wool suiting fabric has won recognition for its contribution to the technical breakthrough.
The Textile Science and Technology Section of AgResearch Textiles, based in Lincoln, New Zealand, has received the inaugural product innovation and commercialisation award at the 86th Textile Institute World Conference in Hong Kong.
The award, organised in conjunction with the Institute of Textiles and Clothing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, recognises organisations that specialise in cutting-edge product design, development and commercialisation.
The organisers of the award recognised the benefits of the new, environmentally friendly, natural machine washable and tumble dryable merino wool fabric, developed in a project funded by Australian Wool Innovation. The technology uses no chemical shrink-resist process for the wool, something that the textile industry has been unable to achieve—until now.
AgResearch Textile Science and Technology Section Manager, Dr Peter Ingham, responded to the accolade by saying that, while wool is globally desired as a premium apparel fabric for its breathability, comfort and drape, the ‘dry-clean only’ aspect is less appealing. “So we have answered the call of today’s modern suit wearer with the new natural, easy-care fabric. We have combined the positive laundering care aspects of synthetics with all the inherent comfort qualities of wool and developed a unique product.”
He pointed out that the team at Lincoln originally developed a lighter version of the suiting fabric, one suitable for men’s shirts and women’s wear. He said the comfort properties of these lighter-weight fabrics were outstanding, particularly in hot conditions.
Dr Surinder Tandon, the scientist who headed the team that developed the NEC fabric, said another advantage of the product is that it should prove easy and cost-effective for the textile industry to adopt the technology. “The specially designed device used to create the yarn can be easily retro-fitted to an existing wool spinning frame and the technology is robust in terms of application and performance,” he said. “The fabrics are given an improved durable worsted finish using standard worsted finishing machinery, and there’s no cost for shrink-resist chemicals.”
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