In addition to quality, trends and fashion aspects, the functionality and comfort of products also play an important role in clothing and home textiles. Textile materials and systems for a wide variety of product areas such as everyday life, sports, workwear or personal protective equipment (PPE) must fulfill their function and at the same time do not restrict the wearer, but rather support and enhance their performance. The same applies to home textiles, such as bedding, which contribute to optimal rest during sleep. Basically, clothing is primarily about heat regulation and moisture management, the sensation of wear on the skin, and ergonomic comfort.
Here we investigate how effectively textiles and clothing keep warm and are able to effectively transport sweat away from the skin - the so-called thermophysiological wear comfort.
With our partly self-developed and standardized measuring equipmecannt, such as the Hohenstein Skin Model and the "WATson" heat release tester, which can be used to determine the cooling effect of sports textiles, for example, we can reliably determine material-specific, physical parameters of heat and moisture management.
For three decades now, we have been characterizing the sensation of wearing - the so-called skin-sensorial comfort. In doing so, we use methods developed in scientific research projects that enable us to make subjective sensation objectively assessable.
We can use our thermal manikins and climatic chambers to determine the extent to which the design of clothing or its fit influence heat and moisture management and thus wear comfort. Depending on the area of application of the clothing, we simulate the wearing and climatic conditions in this way to recreate special application scenarios.
Particularly when it comes to protective clothing (PPE), wearer comfort plays a decisive role, as it is only actually worn if it is highly accepted. Accordingly, PPE must be tailored to the needs of the wearer in their activity and provide them with optimum comfort during all movement sequences.
For sports and outdoor clothing, a three-layer clothing system is often recommended, in which each layer fulfills a different function and together guarantees optimum comfort according to the application.
We test and classify the product performance of the individual clothing layers using the DIN CEN/TR 16422 standard. The underlying tests are coordinated to characterize the thermoregulatory properties of clothing according to clothing layer and use case. Based on these results, we can create a Hohenstein Performance Index for each product. In this way, the user can easily compare individual materials/garments with each other.
To date, we are the leader when it comes to determining and assessing the comfort properties of non-manufactured textiles, clothing, PPE, bedding, sleeping bags, vehicle seats, seating furniture and much more.
Sports and outdoor clothing are used in a wide range of applications. These are clothes and shoes that are worn in everyday life, during leisure activities or sports. Clothing forms a barrier between the human skin and the external environment, so it is important that the materials do not restrict the body's natural mechanisms for maintaining physiological comfort, but rather support people in their performance.
The following tests are particularly suitable for assessing the comfort of sports and outdoor clothing:
We would be happy to advise you on further testing options and put together a test portfolio suitable for your product.
Medical textiles include surgical masks, surgical gowns, bandages, and uniforms for paramedics are closely linked to other technical textiles. Depending on the application of the medical textile, different requirements arise with regard to wear comfort.
The following tests are particularly suitable for assessing the comfort of medical textiles:
We will be happy to advise you on further testing options and put together a test portfolio suitable for your product.
Home textiles include materials and products from the bedding sector such as mattress covers, sheets, blankets, duvets and pillows, but also upholstered furniture, office chairs or terry toweling. Durability and comfort are paramount for home textiles, especially those used in commercial environments such as hotels.
The following tests are particularly suitable for measuring the comfort of home textiles:
We will be happy to advise you on further testing options and put together a test portfolio suitable for your product.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and military textiles include garments and face/body coverings, some of which are used in extreme conditions. The main task is to protect the wearer from external influences such as heat, flames, cold, electrical charges, or wetness. These conditions place complex demands on textiles: in addition to their protective function, they must be durable and comfortable.
The following tests are particularly suitable for measuring the comfort of PPE and military textiles:
We will be happy to advise you on further testing options and put together a test portfolio suitable for your product.
In the hygiene products sector, a distinction can be made between disposable and reusable products. These include wipes, sanitary towels, nappies, and incontinence products. Especially with hygiene products worn close to the body, a good feeling on the skin and comfortable heat and moisture management play a particularly important role.
The following tests are particularly suitable for measuring the comfort of hygiene products:
We will be happy to advise you on further testing options and put together a test portfolio suitable for your product.
