An Investigation on the Effect of Rolling Up Women’s Shirt Sleeves on Clothing Thermal Distribution

Abstract

In garment design clothing dimensions, garment fit, and the thermal comfort of the clothing were defined among the important features. Most of these features are not changeable after production except for some clothing dimensions. At this stage, functional clothing can help the consumers to improve the clothing comfort according to individual demands. The aim of the research is to make ergonomic changes in the sleeves of the women’s shirts to improve the thermal comfort of the clothes on the existing shirt models. In this regard, the arm part was preferred as the region. Discomforts (sweating, odor, etc.) can be easily observed in the lower part of the arm because of the changes in the thermal balance between the body-clothing-environment. The easiest way to minimize the discomfort feelings is making a form change in the arm part (sleeve rolling, arm folding, etc.). Basic types of rolling up shirt sleeves were selected to compare with the non-rolled up form. Their effects on clothing thermal distribution were investigated in wear trials on subject during activity protocol (sitting up/down, walking, and putting up/down weights (books) through to shelf) managed to imitate the movements regularly done in office conditions. Temperature distributions on different body parts were investigated in thermal camera software (Flir İgnite Software). The experimental results show that ergonomically changes on women’s shirt sleeves influence the clothing surface temperatures. In the garment industry, functional and ergonomic designs on shirt sleeves should be defined for better clothing comfort in office conditions.