Muhammad Waqas Iqbal

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the thermal and moisture transport properties of cross-tuck knitted fabrics designed for hot and humid climates. The research evaluates how different yarn compositions (100% cotton, 50/50 and 70/30 cotton–polyester blends) and knitting structures (plain, single, double and triple cross-tuck stitches) influence fabric performance. By analyzing air permeability, moisture management, thermal conductivity and bursting strength, the study seeks to establish design guidelines for optimizing knitted textiles in extreme weather conditions. The findings will contribute to advancing functional fabric engineering for improved thermal comfort in high-temperature environments. Design/methodology/approach: Three yarn compositions (100% cotton, 50/50 and 70/30 cotton–polyester blends) were knitted into four structures (plain, single, double and triple cross-tuck stitches) using a circular knitting machine. Fabric samples were developed and tested for air permeability (ISO 9237), moisture management (AATCC 195), thermal conductivity (KAWABATA KES-FB-7A) and bursting strength (ISO 13938–2). Statistical analysis (ANOVA and Tukey test) evaluated the effects of yarn composition and knitting structure on fabric properties. The experimental approach combined material characterization with standardized testing to assess performance under controlled conditions. Findings: The 70/30 polyester–cotton blend exhibited superior mechanical properties (tenacity: 25.16 CN/Tex) compared to 100% cotton. Air permeability peaked in double cross-tuck structures (1,323 mm/s for 70/30 blend), while single cross-tuck showed optimal moisture management (OMMC: 0.60). Thermal conductivity remained consistent across structures (0.00005–0.00007 W/cm°C), with yarn composition exerting greater influence than stitch type. Bursting strength was highest in 70/30 single cross-tuck (307.8 kPa). Fabric thickness increased linearly with tuck-stitch frequency. Statistical analysis confirmed that yarn composition significantly impacted all properties (p < 0.05), while knitting structure primarily affected air permeability and moisture management. Originality/value: While most of the previous research investigates the properties of standard knitting patterns, cross-tuck stitches remain largely unexplored. This study fills that gap by analyzing how these specific stitches manage heat and moisture in hot and humid conditions. By testing plain knits against single, double and triple cross-tuck structures in both 100% cotton and cotton–polyester blends, we reveal how stitch complexity impacts the heat and moisture transfer properties of a textile fabric. The outcomes of the study help to develop more effective textile solutions with enhanced heat and mass transfer properties for challenging climatic conditions. Highlights:

Tech pack is a comprehensive communication document that provides detailed instructions and specifications for apparel production. It serves as contracts between design sections, production sections, and clients, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and effective communication throughout the product development process. This study aims to identify and examine the specific components of tech packs. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of existing tech packs, the study validates the importance of each component and its contribution to the overall effectiveness of tech packs. The methodology involves hypothesis generation, questionnaire development, data collection through surveys, and data analysis using statistical techniques. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) technique was used to prove the model statistically by using AMOS and SPSS software. Results were improved by several iterations, and they verified that the obtained components of tech packs are necessary to get the right information from customers. Finally, the study developed a conceptual model that describes the relations among all tech pack components and illustrates their interactions and benefits within the apparel sector in question. Furthermore, this study will contribute to the improvement and standardization of tech pack development, ultimately enhancing productivity and ensuring consistent and accurate apparel product development.

This study investigates the effects of waste for value addition in form of use of textile waste to comfortable and durable garments based on blending recycled cotton fibers extracted from spinning, weaving, and cutting waste with virgin cotton in different ratios of 70:30, 80:20, and 90:10 to produce yarns of 22/1 count, which are used to develop single jersey knitted T-Shirt, examining key properties such as mechanical and thermos-physiological properties. Grey fabric (unprocessed fabric) with a higher virgin cotton content and from spinning waste exhibited superior bursting strength, overall moisture management capacity, and thermal conductivity. In contrast, air permeability and water vapor permeability were highest in fabric made with weaving waste. After scouring and bleaching, the finished fabric (processed fabric) was compared with the grey fabrics. The results demonstrate that the finished fabric has slightly reduced bursting strength, water vapor permeability, and moisture management capacity while significantly enhancing air permeability and maintaining thermal conductivity. T-shirt properties were evaluated across various blend ratios and waste types over multiple washing cycles. Overall, the study demonstrates that recycled cotton fibers, particularly those from spinning waste, can be successfully produced into high-performance knitted t-shirts, offering a sustainable alternative to fully virgin cotton products without compromising performance significantly.

Overconsumption and unplanned disposal of garments result in millions of tons of textile products going to landfills. Understanding the environmental benefits and impact of various recycling options is crucial for integrating recycling into the apparel waste stream. This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of products made from post-consumer textile waste fibers, highlighting the importance of closed-loop textile supply chains in developing countries. Using Open LCA software, the cradle-to-gate approach for life cycle assessment is used to calculate the environmental impacts of post-consumer textile waste, virgin cotton, virgin polyester fibers, and their blends in two different scenarios. The life cycle inventory data for functional units (1000 kg apparel) has been collected from the industrial units and the Ecoinvent v3.0 database. The results of 16 environmental impact categories are computed, showing that textile products made from virgin cotton fiber have 60% more global warming potential than those made from post-consumer textile waste fibers. Hence, the environmental impact of textile products can be controlled by recycling them. Consumption of post-consumer textile waste fiber is the key to reducing the new material needs in the textile supply chain. The closed-loop apparel supply chain can help developing countries generate maximum financial value with minimal environmental damage. In developing countries, value extraction from post-consumer textile waste recycling is essential to meet international consumer demands for cleaner production.

Promotion of durable materials and products is a common approach to enhance sustainability. However, the effectiveness of such efforts lies on shifts in user behavior and consumption patterns, and these patterns are influenced not only by material aspects but also by social and experiential dimensions. It has been observed that the consumers’ consumption pattern, i.e., post-consumption behavior, is as harmful as production. However, this area remains largely unexplored. The primary purpose of this study is to explore sustainable garment design strategies to enhance emotional durability of garments and reduce pre-consumer and most importantly, the post-consumer waste. For this purpose, 18 garments were produced using ZWPC for pre-consumption waste reduction and DFD for post-consumption waste minimization. Three hypotheses were developed. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires and wear trials on the practicality of DFD implementation in garments. The results demonstrated that the combination of these strategies has the potential to curb both pre-consumer and post-consumer waste by designing garments that can enter the biological as well as technical cycle of circular fashion (CF). Furthermore, DFD is a success in increasing the use-life of a garment.