Shearing Time of Mediterranean Wools and Fabric Skin Comfort

The effect of the time of shearing on the skin comfort of fabrics produced from Mediterranean wool is measured. These studies confirm that shearing time can affect fabric skin comfort. The observed changes in fabric skin comfort are in line with the observed differences in the percentage of coarse fiber ends in the processed tops. Note that . processing modifies the diameter distribution of the fiber ends by, for example, fiber breakage during carding and the removal of fibers during combing. For wools grown in Western Australia, this observed seasonal change in fabric skin comfort is equivalent to approximately a 2-μm change in the mean diameter of a conventionally produced commercial top. Also, wool from the Sydney auction room (generally a non-Mediterra nean climate) displays a similar but smaller seasonal variation in both the coarse edges of the processed fiber ends and fabric skin comfort.