Development and Aesthetic Evaluation of Knitted Garments Blended with Oak Tasar and Viscose Fibres

Abstract

In the modern apparel industry, there is a growing demand for sustainable and high-performance fabrics that combine aesthetic appeal with comfort and durability. Fibre blending has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance textile properties and develop versatile materials suitable for contemporary fashion applications. The present research aimed to develop and evaluate knitted garments from oak tasar/viscose (50:50) blends for sustainable western apparel, focusing on aesthetic appeal, mechanical performance, comfort, and color fastness. Consumer preferences, gathered from interviews with male and female college students from the university, favored column silhouettes, V-necklines, full-length dresses, notched collars, bell-bottom trousers, bust-length coats, and synthetic dyes. Twenty-five designs were shortlisted to five by a 10-expert panel, prototyped on a 34-inch dress form, and rated highly (4.6/5) for appearance by 45 respondents. The optimized blend exhibited superior mechanical properties, including bursting strength (~4.9 kg/cm²), drape coefficient (~35%), and abrasion resistance (>1500 cycles). Comfort metrics showed air permeability (~185 cm³/cm²/s), thermal insulation (~15), and stretch recovery (~29%), while color fastness (AATCC standards) showed excellent wash, light, and rubbing ratings for synthetics, compare to naturals. These results confirm the blend's performance and market viability, with future applications in scalable production of eco-friendly activewear, professional attire, and adaptive clothing lines leveraging its durability and comfort.