Fibre Types and End-uses: A Perceptual Study

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Abstract
This study has used verbal descriptors generated by consumers in the form of semantic differential grids to study perceptions of different types of textile fibres as they are used for different purposes. The fibres studied were silk, cotton, polyester and nylon; the end-uses were sportshirts and underslips. No actual fabrics were used. The study was concerned solely with perceived properties. The study was carried out in both the United Kingdom and Australia, yielding remarkably close agreements in opinion among the two groups of consumers on most aspects of fibre perceptions — any differences could readily be explained as emanating from climatic differences experienced by the two cities of Newcastle and Sydney. The fibres were clearly differentiated from each other — this was shown by the unique characteristics of the profile of each fibre relative to the attributes listed on the grid and also by principal component analysis. The acceptability of the fibres for each indicated end-use was directly related to how well the fibre was perceived to match the ideal properties required by consumers for that end use (correlation coefficients 0.93 to 0.99). Each fibre was differently valued, depending on the end-use for which it was intended.