A garment’s comfort level encompasses a large variety of factors, including physical aspects such as warmth and water resistance, and psychological aspects such as the sense of wellbeing associated with the right style and fit, especially when it comes to workwear garments.

There are various ways in which the different factors that determine physiological comfort can be measured, including tests for water repellence, air permeability, insulating properties and garment fit. Moreover, objective measurements are often related to the environment, garment construction, fabric and yarn types, and fibre properties. This is why choosing the right fabric and clothing is crucial in every working environment.

According to our experience in the textile sector, the comfort of a garment is determined by a balance of:

• fabric hand
• weight, largely dependent on end-use application and requirement
• finish, such as crease-resistant finish or soft hand finish
• shrinkage, which depends on a combination of finish and construction
• absorbency and evaporation levels, determined by the fabric content
• weave: a plain weave is generally stiffer than a twill
• construction: if fabric construction is too loose, the fabric will have a soft hand, good breathability and lower pilling performance, if too tight the fabric will have good pilling performance and insufficient breathability.

Recent research also suggest that wearing a comfortable workwear uniform affects and improves productivity. When a company prioritises comfort, the employees know the company cares and invests in making their jobs and lives better, and as a result they become more engaged.

Contact our experts to learn more about comfort.