Sustainable Production and Performance Analysis of Cotton Melange Fabrics

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sustainability issues are gaining momentum in the apparel and textile industries. The use of sustainable raw material, process and recycling are basic approaches for developing the sustainable manufacturing and products of textile. In this study, sustainable fabrics that can fulfil the environmental, economic, and social responsibilities are developed and performances are assessed. Organic cotton fiber, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) approved dyes, and RO treated recycled water are used to manufacture different quality sustainable melange yarns and fabrics. Apart from the novelty in the raw material and manufacturing, Box Behnken experimental design was also incorporated for three factors such as fineness of fiber, noil extraction%, and shade depth%. The use of recycled water and biodegradable raw materials leads to environmental and ecological advantages. In terms of technical performance, fineness, and noil extraction have a significant impact on dimensional, mechanical, and physical properties such as stitch density, areal density, thickness, porosity, bursting strength and abrasion resistance of cotton melange knitted fabrics. Shade depth also considerably affects all the above properties of fabrics except thickness, density, and porosity. Higher areal density, lower thickness, and lower porosity of cotton melange fabric with the high extraction of noil and low value of fiber fineness are found.