How a Piece of Clothing is Made

How a Piece of Clothing is Made

The production of a piece of clothing begins with its material. Common materials include cotton, polyester, wool, silk, linen, nylon, acrylic, modal, spandex (also known as Lycra), viscose, and cupro, among others. Taking polyester as an example, it is also known as polyethylene terephthalate. Due to its high strength, wear resistance, non-deformation after washing, quick-drying properties, wrinkle resistance, durability, longevity, light resistance, and recyclability, it is ubiquitous in modern society. For over 80 years, polyester has been widely used around the world, especially in sportswear and casual wear.

Polyester is also commonly found in home furnishings and industrial materials. Its characteristics make it an ideal material for making both civilian and industrial fabrics, such as garments, decorative fabrics, industrial blankets, tire cords, ropes, conveyor belts, and woven fabric raw materials. The history of polyester development is long; it was first successfully developed in 1941 by British scientists John Rex Whinfield and James T. Dickson and named Terylene. Since then, the production technology of polyester has continuously improved, and its application scope has expanded, making it one of the most widely used fibers globally today.

However, the production process inevitably brings about certain pollution, and polyester production is no exception. Nevertheless, mature production processes are in place to ensure that the finished products meet standards. There remains significant room for future development, aiming towards more environmentally friendly and lower-cost methods.

In every supermarket, flipping through the labels of textiles, you will often find polyester listed, usually as a percentage of the composition, which attests to its widespread use. One of the most noticeable advantages of polyester is its excellent dimensional stability, showing little size change after washing, making it suitable for manufacturing clothes that need to maintain their shape, like coats and trench coats. These garments give off a sense of high quality and modernity (often blended with other materials since pure polyester lacks breathability). Though they may feel similar to raincoats, they are actually more complex, glossy, and durable. Without better alternatives, polyester serves as a cost-effective choice. However, due to affordability, it might not meet the needs of high-end users, leading many to prefer pure cotton for its hypoallergenic and breathable properties.

With continuous optimization of polyester production techniques, costs have gradually decreased, making it the preferred material for the mass market. As polyester fabrics become more widely used, circular knitting machines, crucial equipment in the production of polyester fabrics, are also undergoing technological innovation. Polyester production typically originates from petrochemical products, through polymerization reactions to produce polyester polymers, which are then spun into fibers using melt spinning technology. This process involves complex chemical reactions and precise process control to ensure fiber quality and performance.

Circular knitting machines play a key role in producing polyester fabrics by transforming polyester yarns into various fabrics through continuous circular knitting. Their efficiency and flexibility allow them to produce everything from simple plain weaves to complex jacquard fabrics. Producing polyester fabrics is just the first step in the garment manufacturing process. These fabrics are subsequently sent to cutting workshops where they are cut according to design drawings. The cut fabrics are then sent to sewing workshops, where they are sewn into various styles of clothing using sewing machines or by hand. Finally, the finished garments undergo quality inspection, ironing, packaging, and other procedures before being put on the market.

Design plays a critical role, requiring experienced designers to conceptualize designs either on paper or computers, considering market demands, style preferences, and fabric choices, along with detailed considerations of the front, back, and side views of the garment. While theoretically completing tasks based on standards alone is feasible, outstanding designers aim for their creations to match their visions. Fortunately, the actual production of clothing isn't overly complex; the challenges lie elsewhere, such as transforming raw materials into yarns through complex processes, turning yarns into fabrics via machinery, dyeing fabrics, etc., knowledge areas that only skilled workers in different departments fully understand. While some designers don't need to know all these details, having a broader and more professional understanding reduces issues during the production process.

Clothing seen everywhere in modern society may require collaboration across different companies, resulting in garments that meet market requirements and ultimately appear before consumers. Thus, what seems magical is actually the result of a series of established processes, involving meticulous work from relevant personnel, working together to achieve this outcome.