Visual Effects of Stainless Steel and Retro-Reflective Yarns on Woven Fabrics

Abstract

In the 1970s, rapid developments and changing technology enabled the transition from an industrial to an information society to speed up, meanwhile causing cybernetic, biomimetics and space research to accelerate. In this period, some changes appeared in the needs of people, resulting in the production of fibers and yarns that are functionally hygienic, anti bacterial, able to breathe, and resistant to ultraviolet (UV)-rays. While material criteria were becoming important in textile design in light of these changes, new esthetic effects that emerged which depended on the materials used in textile products also appeared.

Different visualities were obtained as impressions such as iridescence, dull-brightness, voluminosity, and relief-like impressions in fabrics by high-tech innovations which created fibers, yarns and finishing processes in particular and properties of touch, such as softness, slipperiness, and super fluidity. Comparisons of fabrics were made between artificial and natural materials, and included in aesthetical renovations.

In consideration of such data, the subject of this paper within the context of innovation brought about for clothing fabrics by high-tech fibers and yarns is as follows: the design and production of different aesthetical and visual-effect clothing fabrics with brightness and shimmering qualities in voluminous, puffy and relief-like impressions by using stainless steel and retro reflective yarns that are products of high-tech.

For this purpose, 12 apparel fabrics have been designed and produced. The above-mentioned visual effects are studied in these fabrics and related differences established based on type and number of yarn, weave, and density, and structure of fabric.

The different approach in this study is that voluminous, puffy, shimmering and brightness effects in clothing fabrics are obtained by stainless steel and retro reflective yarns in single and double layer structures, and as patterned fabrics. Therefore, brightness and patterns could be differently conceived based on the type of light by day or night. Another difference is that 100% stainless steel yarn is used and spun.

Citation

Önlü, N. and Halaçeli, H. (2012), "Visual Effects of Stainless Steel and Retro-Reflective Yarns on Woven Fabrics", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 82-95. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-16-02-2012-B009