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TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA: Future in sportswear to consider ergonomics and thermal comfort

TAIAEI: The future in sportswear must consider ergonomics and thermal comfort; Thomas Huang, chairman of the TTRI the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) said here on March 26.

According to Thomas Huang, TTRI's emphasis is on quality and function. They focus not on fashion design, but on technology design.

With a unique technological and scientific approach to sportswear, the TTRI has made great strides to become the forerunner in the field.

Taiwan is the leading bicycle manufacturer in the world. They wish to complement this with the unique sportswear design that their research and development can come up with.

According to Yin Cheng-ta, deputy director of TTRI's Department of Product Development, TTRI's ergonomic sportswear pattern design uses body mapping technology, which takes into consideration tendon and muscle extension, body heat and moisture.

When the human body is exercising, different areas of the body emit different heat levels and moisture levels.

They use this body mapping to design the cut of the textiles, which must adjust to the shape of the muscles' expansion and contraction in order to reduce friction while increasing comfort.

In addition, TTRI's thermal comfort design utilizes an innovative artificial climate chamber that measures the body's temperature and moisture during cycling.

They aim to achieve a balance between the body's temperature and the outside temperature.

According to TTRI research, the best system for thermal comfort is one that keeps the body core temperature in the range of 35 degrees Celsius while exercising.

Bearing all these factors, TTRI has created sportswear that is completely seamless, with pieces that are welded instead.

This makes the sportswear lightweight and reduces unpleasant friction; said Yin. Think of the sore feeling you get after horseback riding with jeans; he added.

TTRI partners with local manufacturers and vendors that have benefited from the research and development and expertise that TTRI has acquired through the years.

Ever on the forefront, Huang feels that even with the addition of technology to the design of sportswear, it is still not enough. They need also to commercialize the products to remain competitive.

Source: Agencies • News Courtesy: BharatTextile.com