Optimum Silhouette Design for Ladies' Garments Based on the Mechanical Properties of a Fabric

Abstract

This paper introduces a method of objectively designing the optimum silhouette of ladies' garments based on fabric mechanical properties, rather than relying on designers' experience. The optimum silhouette is objectively discriminated by a discriminant equation. Approximately 300 fabric samples for ladies' garments are classified into three silhouette groups—tailored, anti-drape, and drape—by eight experts in tailoring and designing. Fab ric mechanical properties are selected for discrimination and measured for all samples. Canonical discriminant analysis is applied to derive equations with higher discriminant efficiency using the basic mechanical parameters of tensile, shearing, and bending prop erties as well as fabric weight. The analysis confirms that the objective method provides highly accurate discrimination. Some applications are also introduced.