Shrinkage refers to the proportion of dimensional change of the fabric during the washing process. For clothing fabrics, the shrinkage rate will directly affect the size change after washing and the characteristics of the fabric.
1. Size changes after washing:
– If a piece of fabric has a high shrinkage rate, the fabric may shrink after washing. Shrinkage, causing the size of the garment to change. For example, if a T-shirt’s fabric has a high shrinkage rate, the length and width of the T-shirt may shorten after washing, resulting in a smaller size.
– In addition, shrinkage may also cause distortion of clothing. If the fabric shrinks unevenly during the wash cycle, the garment may appear distorted, such as becoming uneven or asymmetrical.
2. Fabric characteristics:
– Fabrics with high shrinkage rates usually have better elasticity and recovery, even after repeated use It can also maintain a certain elasticity after washing. This makes the garment easier to correct and maintain shape.
– Some artificially increase the shrinkage of fabrics in order to maintain good quality and fit during the cutting and sewing process. For example, a tailor may intentionally leave a certain amount of gusset so that it can be adjusted for optimal comfort after the fabric shrinks after washing.
It should be noted that different types of fabrics have different shrinkage characteristics, such as cotton, wool, polyester, etc. In addition, different washing methods (hand washing, machine washing, drying, etc.) and temperature will also affect the shrinkage rate of the fabric. Therefore, when purchasing clothing, it is important to understand the shrinkage characteristics of fabrics to choose the right size and maintain the appearance and quality of the garment.
