Identification and Comparison of Fabric Properties in the Age of Digital Communication

Abstract

The use of technology in apparel and textile sectors has been increasing in both academia and industry. This study was conducted to identify the impressions of fabrics presented in three different media including in-person fabric presentation, flat digital photographs, and draped digital photographs over a dress form, and to compare the differences in the responses to them. The serviceability concept as defined in established literature was used to categorize responses. Ten fabric samples were viewed by sixty-seven college students. They were asked to note their impressions of fabrics through open-ended questions at the beginning and end of the semester, rotating the presentation medium. Responses fell into serviceability categories and patterns emerged that show differences given the presentation medium.