Environmentally friendly and sustainable bark cloth for garment applications: Evaluation of fabric properties and apparel development
- Submitting institution
-
Manchester Metropolitan University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 250884
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
-
10.1016/j.susmat.2019.e00136
- Title of journal
- Sustainable Materials and Technologies
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 1
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- -
- ISSN
- 2214-9937
- Open access status
- Compliant
- Month of publication
- November
- Year of publication
- 2019
- URL
-
https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/624406/
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- Yes
- Number of additional authors
-
2
- Research group(s)
-
D - Fashion
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- An interdisciplinary research team evaluated the performance and the potential of Ugandan bark cloth as an eco-fashion fabric by addressing some of the practical aspects as well as the aesthetic-garment making considerations. The bark cloth was investigated for its practical suitability and various tests were conducted to determine its performance including fabric drape, stiffness, surface morphology, and tensile strength. CO2 laser patterning and sublimation printing were trialled to incorporate surface patterns and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [ATR-FTIR] was used to monitor the loss of fibres. An optimum set of parameters were identified to use CO2 laser and sublimation printing. Bark cloth composite with interfacing enhanced its drape, handle, and strength. The strength of the bark cloth composite with woven interfacing increased six-fold [when aligned with fabric grain] compared with the bark cloth alone. The garment analysis revealed that bark cloth composite offered drape, shape, and fit when donning and doffing of mannequin and can be satisfactorily developed into outer garments. Our research had shown how natural variations of bark cloth can be eliminated by interfacing, which reinforces the bark cloth structure and facilitates garment making. Research adds new knowledge to the extant literature as previous research did not focus on garment shaping or draping with bark cloth following surface treatment. Outcomes inspire local designers, academic practice, and clothing designer-makers in producing craft-based apparel with sustainable materials, creating a local demand for the Ugandan bark cloth supporting the artisans involved in the production. Research dissemination at ‘Sustainable Materials’ seminar held at Manchester organised by Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering Centre, MMU as well as in the ‘Curative Things: Medicine/Fashion/Art’ symposium organised by Fashion Research Network, was well received by peers prompting many enthusiasts to foresee its application across diverse fields.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -