The Effect of Fabric Structure on Ventilation System of Clothing Comfort

Sportswear fabrics need to provide a comfortable environment for the wearer and consequently need to be able to handle moisture vapor and sweat produced by the body. Modern sportswear is usually made from synthetic fibers like polyester. To evaluate the effectiveness of ventilation systems in sportswear, four polyester fabrics different in their structure, open hollow mesh, flat mesh, open hollow micro mesh and closed hollow micro mesh. Tested for air permeability, thermal retention, water vapor, wettability, wicking and drying time, the fabric which have the best properties was used in three positions in T-shirt (armpit, chest and back). Four polyester knitted fabrics different in their structure, single jersey, interlock and rib, were tested for air permeability, thermal retention, water vapor permeability, wettability, wicking and drying time, and the fabric that have the best properties was used to make the T-shirt. Three Athletes undertook physical exercises, wearing this T-shirts, the amount of perspiration generated in three different positions (armpit, chest and back) were recorded for analysis. The results suggest that ventilation at the appropriate positions in the T-shirt could contribute considerably to use of breathable fabrics.