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APPAREL & MADE-UPS FROM INDIA QUALITY STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

A PAPER BY

ULLHAS M NIMKAR
M.Sc., C.Col. FSDC, FTA, Chartered Colourist

CEO

Texanlab

IIT New Delhi Conference & Seminar October 2005

PREAMBLE
Global Trade is a reality. The MFA has been dismantled and the industry has to face global realities for all textile products. Exports face stiff competition from countries like China. The Indian textile industry makes a significant contribution to the national economy in terms of direct and indirect employment. The country has been a major player in the textile business all over the world. However, with all the increase, it is estimated that only 3 % of the worlds export of apparel is from India. There are limitless opportunities for the country to be a dominant player with larger share and for that it is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Industry as a whole and more significantly the positives and negatives with respect to Quality of the goods being produced. This presentation tries to enumerate a few of these points.

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INTRODUCTION
The history of fabrics is as old as the history of civilization itself. The use of Wool, Silk, Cotton and Linen has been known to exist since time immemorial. These natural fibres have been produced, processed and traded in all ancient civilizations. Many other natural fibres were also used by past generations. Most modern fibres have a history that is only about 60 years old. For example, the first synthetic fibre produced was polyamide (Nylon) in 1938. Initially used for stockings, its applications expanded to dress material, shirting, sarees, bed linen, underclothing, carpets, tyre cord, parachute cloth and belts. Acrylic was produced in 1948 and is popularly used in knitwear, carpets and pile fabrics. Polyester was commercially produced in 1953 and today has become the largest synthetic fibre being produced. By itself and blended, its applications are wide spread in domestic and industrial applications. The Indian Textile Industry is one of the oldest in the world. Evidence exists that trade in textiles began as far back as the 15th century. Global trade developed as ancient travellers went to far off lands and came back home with all kinds of merchandise characteristic of these places. Textiles were among the goods that were coveted and traded. The Indian Textile Industry in India has been acknowledged to be the pioneer of Indian Industrialization. Indian Textiles have always been a major player in global trade over the past few decades. Starting off with fibres, then yarn, fabric and today finished products, the country has been deeply committed to this trade.

EMERGENCE OF QUALITY PARAMETERS

There are indications that Quality requirements in textiles were introduced in the 17th century, For example, the Frankfurt Municipal Council in 1669 certified fabric for length, width, number of ends and levelness of dyeing. The Municipal Council of Leyden, Holland affixed their seals on fabrics being sold in their city as far back as 1622. Other examples of fabric Quality and Quality control can be found in history as well. In fact, testing of textiles was detailed and very scientific over 200 years ago, as some Italian test reports testify. There have been many other instances and examples of certification of fabrics such as the 18th Century certification of Linen by Linen Inspectors of the German city of Alsfeld in Upper Hessen. These examples go to show that requirements and laws have always been practiced in the textile trade. The importance of Quality of a product whether in fabric or apparel form was felt immediately on increased exposure and awareness of the consumer. All this began with landmark events that revolutionized the Textile Industry the world over.

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Mercerization and Sanforization led to guarantees of < 1.0% Shrinkage on chronically affected fabrics of Cotton and Linen. Coal Tar distillation paved the way for synthetic fibres, which in turn allowed tailor- made application oriented fabrics. From Fit after washing these led to Wash & Wear, Anti Crease, Minimum Iron to No Iron fabrics. Special finishes boasted stain repellency characteristics. New finishes can now give anti bacterial, flame proofing, anti microbial, water & oil proofing and a host of other properties. Which each finish came specifications and special Quality control parameters. In the earlier days processing of fabrics was limited to a batch process. Each batch of fabric was properly weighed, the requisite auxiliaries, dyes etc. adjusted and added. Time and temperature could also be easily monitored. The batch therefore was controlled and was usually acceptable. As production was upgraded to a continuous process, on- line and immediate process controls was required. Initially this proved to be a very difficult challenge. Simultaneous development of microprocessor based controls and more sophisticated monitoring and metering systems helped cross this hurdle. In the 1970s and 80s another revolution swept the World. What started at the end of World War I completed full circle in this period. Ready- made garments became the premier retail outlet for fabric. This created another set of Quality parameters to be ensured. From the now-common properties of Dimensional Stability and Colourfastness; Garment Appearance, Feel & Fall, Construction, Physical properties, Special Finish and Presentation became the buzz-words. What was acceptable in short lengths of fabric retailed over the counter became unacceptable because of mass production of apparel. Shade variations, longer length defects, manufacturing faults were now required to be addressed. Shade variations in fabrics with natural fibres were especially apparent in large lots. The causes for these variations could have been from any one or a combination of factors which ranged from fibre Quality, variations in blending, inadequate or improper pre-treatment, variations in dyeing & finishing parameters etc. Consumer complaints and Buyers requirements filtered through the supply chain right upto the yarn manufacturer and Quality parameters needed to be redefined once again. As Garment manufacturing technology progressed, machine speeds increased rapidly. This in turn led to new production related defects such as needle damage. Layered Garments, Accessories and Embellishments on Apparel required special care in suggesting washing instructions as also precautions in the actual design of the apparel due to possible inter-fabric damage in manufacture, use or washing. Garment processing led to stone/sand wash finishes. Enzymes in bio-polishing & use of resins in Garment forms lead to their own Quality parameters. Since the 1990s ecological concerns came to the forefront, especially in Europe. This led to new norms being developed for textiles. Eco- labels made their presence felt. Requirements and restrictions on the use of harmful chemicals were introduced. Legislation on consumer safety related to environmental and health hazards has been passed in European countries already. In the 2000s, fresh requirements such as those for APEOs have been put in. Going ahead, sustainability will be a question that everyone will need to answer. New research and use of

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nanotechnology has created a buzz and that will bring in new specifications that were hitherto unknown in the textile industry.

QUALITY & GLOBAL TRADE

There is no doubt left in anyones mind about the importance of Quality in global trade. To produce goods to satisfy the customer, to adhere to known specifications, to understand the difference in specifications for each end product, market and market segment are some of the key elements besides fashion and styling to accomplish success. All the new brands that have done well internationally in the apparel and made-up industry had this singular reason for their success. Therefore, if India is to succeed in the world market, it is necessary to upgrade in all spheres of the textiles industry. Quality will remain a key ingredient in this possible success story. Therefore, it is important to discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses that Indian merchandise show in terms of their Quality. It is a key factor that affects competitiveness in any market. Quality is defined differently by different people and pundits have spent many agonizing years trying to tie the definition down. But all agree on one point. A good Quality product always leaves its customer satisfied and happy. Quality will have the customer buy again.

INDIAS QUALITY STRENGTHS

History Vertical Manufacturing Fibre to Finished Product Technical Education and Expertise Availability of the worlds best colourants and chemicals Abundant Skilled artisans / workforce and low costs of labour Flexibility in Manufacturing English Language Skills

The Indian textile sector has its roots going back thousands of years. We were known to produce some of the worlds finest fabric which was treasured over the world. Examples of fine Indian fabrics have been found in Europe and Africa dating back to many centuries. This reputation continued a few decades post independence due to abundant supply of cotton and a thriving mill sector coupled with cheap labour and good Quality. Another factor which is not talked about so much is the politics of India a stable democracy is comforting to the western world. India is one of the few countries in the world that has true vertical integration in the textile sector from raw material to finished merchandise. Fibre to Product realization is possible in this country. This leads to a genuine advantage in terms of Quality control, availability and cost. The spinning sector of the country is top-class; the Quality of 100 % Cotton yarns produced being the best in the world.
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India contributes about 15 % to total cotton production and has a 25 % market share for cotton yarn trade. The yarn production is from counts of 6s to 160s and much of the production is below 5% Uster norms. India occupies the leading position in the export of made-ups and home textiles to North America. The country produces top-class technical persons and the long history of textile education means that India has experts in almost all fields of the textile industry. Research and Development is also quite strong in the country where these skills are continuously being honed. A well developed education system is helping the country produce people with the right technical skills. A glance at the technical programme at the forthcoming AATCC Conference in the USA will reveal that over 4 technical papers are being presented by Indian researchers and students. As the industry has grown, technical & educational institutes have been established in the country from the fibre stage to garment technology and fashion technology. These institutes carry out either basic research or trains young professionals in their respective fields of expertise. India also has the advantage of having testing laboratories to international standards. These laboratories, both under ministries and private, local and multinational are able to offer to the industry testing to world standards. The growth and improvement of management assets is also critical. Modern business in the industry needs suppliers to be self sufficient and efficiently managed. With young technocrats and managerial staff turning to the industry, the future is bright. Already the industry boasts of a dynamic and young professional managerial staff across the board a major advantage in assimilating new ideas and group motivation to produce Quality goods. Another advantage that the country possesses is the relative young workforce. It is estimated by some experts that in the coming years, when the world has an aging workforce, India will have about 70 % of her productive persons under the age of 35. All the leading textile colouration companies and textile chemicals companies have representation in India. Most of these are long term associations with manufacturing facilities. This makes it possible to have some of the worlds latest and best chemicals being made available to the Indian textile sector. This automatically leads to good Quality and improvements in current production. The cost of labour in India is relatively cheap, compared to the industrialized world. Coupled with the tremendous personal skills that the Indian workforce, a high Quality product can be expected from this country. In fact, most skilled textile workers are called kaarigars or artisans and not operators. This is due to the involvement of entire communities in certain manual skills, many of them handed down from generations. With such skills and superb needlework, new products can easily be assimilated and produced in the country.

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The hallmark of the Indian textile industry is the flexibility to produce smaller quantities with low colour minimums and high value addition. This is a major business advantage the country has in the fashion industry so long as the Quality is good. Good Quality will lead to better products possibly with more intricate patterns and thus higher realizations. This flexibility also allows manufacturers to switch between orders faster and cater to requirements closer to each selling season with smaller quantities a major attraction for the fashion conscious buyers. Most businessmen and professionals in the industry have English language skills which is by default, today the language of international business. This is a major advantage when it comes to understanding customers needs and Quality requirements. Technical treatises and texts being in English also leads to better understanding on new processes and practices in the manufacturing process which leads to higher Quality of products.

INDIAS QUALITY WEAKNESSES

Fragmentation of manufacturing chain no global focus & lack of dedication. Weaving Wet Processing facilities Poor reputation among buyers Dated technologies being used Productivity of labour Quality is often last on everyones mind Archaic Laws and Restrictions, Poor implementation

The Indian textile industry f or the most part is highly fragmented. Barring a few large, vertically integrated organizations, the bulk of the business is handled disjointedly and with no real focus except to ship out goods. This in itself leads to lack of basic dedication and there is disregard for Quality parameters. The tendency to take short-cuts on processes and materials results in indifferent products with varying Quality. Consistency, which should be the hallmark of a high Quality product, is clearly missing. Another problem of a fragmented manufacturing chain is the long lead times that it brings along with it. This fragmentation and the consequent absence of large manufacturing facilities have led to low capacities. India cannot therefore effectively compete for large vo lumes and neither can these be produced with any assurance of Quality.

Lack of communication between the links of the supply chain leads to many Quality problems. When the actual processor is not made aware of the final product requirements, he is unable to select the proper colourants, chemicals and processes to achieve these requirements. For example a 40s sheeting fabric can be used for many end products with different properties required. Some of these are given below

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All Apparel Adult Apparel Curtain Backing Baby Wear Childrens Nightwear Intimate Apparel Home Textiles Flags

Flammability as per legal requirements General Laws and Specifications Colourfastness to light Colourfastness to saliva, extractable heavy metals in the EU Flammability Close to skin requirements, Toxicity Issues, Anti Microbial Colourfastness to higher temperature, anti soiling treatments, absorbency Excellent colourfastness to light.

It is quite obvious that unless the entire supply chain and especially the weaver and processor is given a clear indication of the end use and the requirements of that end use, the end product will most likely not be to required standards. Table 1 gives a typical specification for different end uses. Weaving and wet processing are among our major weaknesses. They largely produce goods of inadequate quality and quantity. While the spinning sector has invested in technology and upgradation, the weaving and processing industry, due to many reasons did not do so adequately. Now, faced with challenges of high volumes and high Quality output, the country is found wanting. Many new mills and process houses have been set up to exacting international standards, but unless a concentrated effort is not made in this sector, India will suffer from a largely poor Quality output. This very reason leads buyers to have a bad opinion of Indian Manufacturers. While they would and could be understanding to a point, their own customers do not permit them to have slack Quality parameters. The industry will have to make great strides in improving this lowgrade reputation. Further, remaining at the low end of the trade would mean certain death for the Export Industry. Our costs and strengths are not so advantageous that other countries in the vicinity cannot catch up and overhaul us. All the more reason for the trade to upgrade. The Brand India does not conjure visions of quality products to the world. We have, for many years, stuck to the low cost, low value, low quality product. Even though some producers can manufacture excellent high value merchandise, the brand does not yield them much value. To add to this, the country still has to shore up her garment designing skills. Most businesses depend on foreign designs and colour palettes. If solutions are offered at the buyers door, both the image and order value should increase. Many of the manufacturers are still using dated technologies for fabric, garment and made-up production. Old technology and old equipment are inherently prone t o defective output leading to lower Quality. While Indias labour costs are still an advantage, the productivity per person is drastically low. India is generally rated as bad when it comes to output and industry efficiency. Little or no training leads to poor output both in terms of numbers and Quality. With rework, the
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problems are compounded. The idea of first time right has to take root with great seriousness this leads to higher costs, delays and loss of money and reputation. Quality is often a distant thought in the typical small manufacturers mind, especially in the fragmented industry. There is a marked lack of discipline and short-sightedness when it comes to production in the industry. Testing is considered to be largely wasteful and is generally avoided. It is done purely on an ad-hoc basis and on insistence from buyers. In a globally competitive market, Quality needs to be part of the working system and so does testing, at the appropriate time in the manufacturing sequence. The lack of attention to detail and the inability or indifference towards standardization results in low Quality. The country has archaic laws for the industry including some that are centuries old. Modern business in the textile sector needs to have flexibility in labour policies, at the same time implementation of necessary regulations on issues such as effluent and emissions. When a business that follows periodic and almost mandatory high and low cycles is not permitted to have flexibility in labour hiring, the businessman would always walk on the safe side. This leads to increased sub-contracting, sub-division of orders and eventually problems of Quality due to consistency and reliability issues. Government policy in the past years also dictated the investments that were (not) made in the organized business sector, the production of some goods was left to the small scale sector which ensured that organized production and retail were not allowed to flourish. This led to the fragmented production chain that exists today. Quotas set by the government were also the bane of the serious exporter. Exporters were forced to compete and operate under many names and companies leading to unnecessary problems of organization, management and even confusion among buyers. These forced exporters to remain disorganized when they should have been allowed to think and operate big.

APPAREL FROM INDIA

Apparel constitute the largest export category in textiles from India. The country has been mainly known for the cheaper mass market products that it could export. Some of the apparel products that are exported from India are Babies garments Ladies & Girls Blouses Ladies and Girls dresses Dress & Casual Shirts Knitted Garments such as T shirts Undergarments, Brassieres Nightdresses and pajamas Bathrobes Scarves Shawls

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Denim garments Blazers, Coats & Jackets Trousers Socks Ladies Skirts Handkerchiefs Overcoats and Raincoats

The country has the advantages of producing intricate hand work in small lots and in many colour ways at the same time cannot produce huge quantities with reliability and within the economics that other countries such as China or Bangladesh can. India is strong in the traditional cotton segments but is not considered to be competitive or capable in high value synthetics and fine silk. Though flexibility in terms of smaller quantities and myriad of colours is a great advantage, poor organization and a weakness in the wet processing sector does not allow the products being produced to have the best possible colourfastness Quality. Rework is common which leads to delays in production cycles. With new process houses with modern technology being established, this weakness is being addressed but the entire wet processing sector needs to have a large infusion of latest technology to address the reliability and repeatability issues in production. Quality Issues in Apparel are mainly from two sources Fabric related or Manufacturing related. Fabric Issues In the early years, poor fibre quality lead to quality problems in the fabric. Inadequate and improper pre-treatment of the yarn / fabric prior to dyeing lead to colourfastness issues. Hand dyeing with no controls was the practice then. By the late 1980s the hand process industry had changed to processes which ensured good pre-treatment and the use of reactive dyes which substantially improved the colourfastness properties. Processors started using mechanized dyeing techniques to get shades that were repeatable, with fewer variations between lots. By adopting better washing off techniques, the problem of colourfastness to washing was improved. Woven and Knitted apparel frequently had problems of excessive shrinkage. The use of compacting machines and othe r techniques were adopted so that dimensional stability was maintained. The properties of colourfastness to washing, water and rubbing have been the cause for maximum claims paid by Indian Exporters. Even though some of the best dyes were available to the industry, the processors did not upgrade their traditional working procedures which gave rise to frequent issues with colourfastness. However, with better understanding helped by laboratories both government and private, dyestuff companies, technical education and buyers insistence transformed the industry.

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Today even smaller processors use technology in their dyeing and finishing operations. In the early 1990s flammability of apparel made from sheer fabrics became a burning issue for exporters of such merchandise to the USA. These did not pass the requirements of the Flammable Fabrics Act and were returned to the exporters. Over a period of time, it was learnt that with an improved & denser construction, the fabrics could achieve the requirements of the regulation. Some areas where the industry has been found wanting have emerged in the last few years. Colourfastness to Light, Colourfastness to Ozone (for denims) are some of the parameters which the industry is struggling, especially where requirements are higher. Again, efforts to understand the best ways to overcome these are being made. In the 1990s the industry was faced with Eco Parameters. These represented restrictions or bans on some chemicals which are harmful to humans and / or the environment. The ban on carcinogenic amines was one of the first to be implemented in Germany which led to some panic among exporters and processors since there was lack of appropriate knowledge and guidance. Here too, laboratories, dyestuff companies, institutes under the Ministry of Textiles disseminated the knowledge and the problems were overcome. Today, the country is able to produce goods to the environmental standards demanded by buyers. One of the problems that is expected to haunt the industry for some time is the ban on Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates (NPEOs). This ban has come into force as a European Union directive from January 2005. A widely used chemical surfactant, NPEO has been found to be an endocrine disruptor and this ban is likely to be a problem for the next few years until alternatives are commercially used by all concerned in the supply chain. Manufacturing Issues In the apparel industry, the most common problem that was faced by the industry was sizing. Due to extremely rudimentary production techniques which were not conducive to mass production, size variations were rife. This gave the buyers a lot of trouble, since the industry did not realize or understand what correct sizing meant in a readymade dominated market. However, over a period of time and with increased technology usage, these problems were overcome to a major extent by the progressive players in the trade. Today, most leading manufacturers have the right systems in place for quality production. Garment Finishing was also considered to be a very major problem with Indian Apparel. Broken needles, loose threads, creases, improper folds, etc. were always something that the apparel exporter gave to their buyer without any charge. Stains on the garment, inadequate and / or improper packaging, and poor presentation lead to many claims from Buyers.

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 Poor house-keeping has been one of the main problems in spinning mills, weaving units and garment manufacturing units until recent years. Fly, oil stains, food stains, dirt, soil and even smell were considered to be inevitable. In fact, the Indian smell on garments is so distinct that people in the know were able to unerringly pick out garments from India from a fully-stocked warehouse, blindfolded. But with buyers insisting on better quality, these problems have been reduced substantially. Future The future is likely to focus on sustainability of fabrics and apparel. Much more work will need to be done by all connected to the trade especially in R&D to achieve this, possibly Utopian, goal.

MADE -UPS FROM INDIA

India is one of the largest supplier of home textiles to the world and the range of products that the country exports covers : Carpets, Rugs, Floor coverings Curtains, Cushion Covers Napkins Towels and Toweling fabric Bedspreads Furnishing Fabric and Upholstery Table Linen Bed linen Sheets and Pillowcases Blankets Floor Cloths and Dusters Food Grade Jute Bags Sacks and packing bags Shower Curtains

As with apparel, Indian exports are mainly in natural fibres such as cotton, jute and silk. Of late, products made of synthetics and blends have shown encouraging signs of being significant export items. Some of the best home textiles in cotton are made in India, where there is enough expertise in spinning weaving and processing. There is flexibility in terms of colours, patterns and effects, as in the case of apparel. Large investments have been made recently in the production of terry toweling and millmade bed linen. The bed- linen sector has always been very strong in India and this continues. These producers are able to manufacture goods to the best international standards.
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The rest of the trade is fragmented but generally is limited to specialized regions of the country, where entire communities are engaged in production. This leads to a little better control over Quality. However, there exist some problem areas such as selection of dyestuffs for the required end-use, where the processor is not always aware of the expectations of the product being used. This lack of communication through the supply cha in is a weakness.

As compared to the apparel sector, home textiles has shown good growth potential and should more investments be put into place by the industry, Indias share in the world home textile market will grow.

Quality problems in home textiles are generally similar to those for apparel and most of the points mentioned in earlier sections are valid. As for apparel, quality requirements for home textiles are based on their end use. Here, we will discuss a few actual problems faced by Buyers and Exporters of home textiles from India, as case studies. Colourfastness to Light Curtains and Upholstery require high colourfastness to light due to the nature of their use. This needs to be kept in mind by every one in the manufacturing chain, especially the processor. Selection of proper dyestuffs and the right combination is essential to achieve high light fastness properties. Assistance from dyestuff manufacturers has helped the industry with selection to overcome this problem. Colourfastness to water Dyed and p rinted floor mats, exported to Europe, which were placed outside a bathroom were found to have stained the carpet on which they were placed. The colours had bled through the floor mat onto the carpet mimicking the design on the merchandise. On investigation it was found that the floor mat had poor colourfastness to water which led to the problem. The buyer added this test to the requirements and the processor took the necessary precautions . Colourfastness to Wet Scrubbing The tests of Colourfastness to Washing and Colourfastness to Rubbing are the most common tests generally specified by buyers to determine the longevity of colourants in regular use by consumers. We were submitted a sample of a pigment printed floor covering (durrie) for analysis which had passed all the QC tests of the buyer but had still been returned by the customer as it faded significantly during the first washing which was done as per the prescribed care label instructions. The test for colourfastness to washing is intended to determine if the specimen loses colour in the washing and if this colour stains other light coloured and while fabrics in the washing process itself. The test that is especially developed to assess the quality of a pigment print is the test for Colourfastness to Wet Scrubbing, ISO 105 C07.

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Migration into PVC Clothing and Home Textiles frequently come into contact with plastics. For example the backing on placemats and bathmats, plastic drums in tumble dryers etc. In an unusual case, substantial mark-off of colour was observed on plastic tumble dryer drums after a pigment printed bed sheet was washed in Sweden in the year 2000. This customer complaint was investigated in detail. There was no specific test or specification that could be used to detect such a problem in the laboratory but after due study and some tests, it was concluded that the test of Assessment of Migration of Colour into PVC Coatings could be used for this. Subsequently suppliers were asked to conform to the specification. Some pigments were found to be especially susceptible to migration. Once these specific colourants were eliminated from use, the problem was solved. Colourfastness to Dry Cleaning Several pigments are not suitable for use in printing where the article is to be drycleaned and the dyestuff manufacturer should be consulted for this colourfastness information. Many years ago, there was a case where a large mill in India produced Indian- Motif pigment printed curtains for Europe which were given a dry-clean only label as specified by the buyer. At the time testing protocols were not developed to the extent they are today. The curtains sold well but customers brought them back to the store after one dry-cleaning cycle, with no design left, which was quite embarrassing to both the retailer and the mill. The large consignment had to be modified in Europe by replacing the dry-clean label with a suitable wash label before moving them again to stores. This was possible as dimensional stability to washing parameters were well within control. Others As with Apparel, Eco Parameters are also applicable to Home Textiles bound for Europe. Since many of the home textiles that are being exported are processed in smaller units, these parameters needed to be understood in detail by the processors. Today, even strict Eco Parameters can be achieved by the industry, The ban of NPEOs has had an impact on the Home Textile Industry. Some European buyers have started specifying this requirement and the manufacturers are facing a tough time since data on possible solutions are not easily available. Moreover, currently testing has been restricted to a few institutions in Europe which leads to excessive time losses and expenses. This is a challenge that the industry will have to overcome in the immediate term.

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CONCLUSIONS
India has a strong textile sector which is slated to grow significantly in the coming years. This growth will be fuelled only with better quality products. The country has significant advantages over others in the field of textiles, but also has some weaknesses. Overcoming these disadvantages will remain a key ingredient in the continued climb towards being a significant textile supplier to the world.

Table 1 : Typical Specifications

Sr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Test Woven Shirts Dress Trousers 3.0 % 4/4 Dry 4 Wet 3 4/4 4 Satisfactory 19 kgf 1000 gm 4 15,000 rubs Curtains 3.0 % 4/4 Dry 4 Wet 3 4/4 5-6 Bed Linen 3.0 % 4/4 Dry 4 Wet 3 4/4 5 4/4 Dry 4 Wet 3 4/4 5 4 No change Floor Coverings

Dimensional 3.0 % Stability Colourfastness 4/4 to washing Colourfastness Dry 4 to rubbing Wet 3 Colourfastness 4/4 to water Colourfastness 4 to light Migration into PVC Water spotting Appearance after Satisfactory washing Tensile Strength 12 kgf Tear Strength 700 gm Pilling 4 Resistance Abrasion 10,000 rubs Resistance

Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory 15 kgf 800 gm 25 kgf 800 gm 4 15,000 rubs -

Note : Values are for illustrative purposes only.

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