Factor Analysis on Subjective Attributes Affecting Knitted Fabric´s Comfort Sensation

Clothing comfort is a state of satisfaction indicating physiological, psychological and physical balance among the person. Subjective experiment is rated an end-use performance test to collect the comfort sensation of wears. In this paper, 20 samples are chosen, then subjective experiment with four processes rest, walking, running and rest is taken and questionnaire is designed to test 10 comfort properties of knitwear fabric including thermal, moisture, clinging, stifling, rough, soft, drape, prickle, tight and overall comfort. Through factor analysis, 9 kinds of subjective sensations are abstracted into 3 main factors. Factor 1 is named tactile factor including rough, prickle, soft and drape. Factor 2 is named heat-moisture factor including thermal, stifling, moisture and clinging. Factor 3 is named pressure factor including tight. Based on experimental data, a multiple regression model for predicting comfort sensations of knitted fabric is established and proved to have good predictability.