Garment-finishing techniques

Today's consumers' choice of clothing has shifted towards fast fashion, and they demand the right product at the right time and at the right price. Hence, the garment manufacturing units often find it hard to cater to consumer needs. Their demand for aesthetics, appearance, handle, lustre and comfort in clothing is mainly achieved by chemical finishing, especially in fabric form. However, some of these essential features may be deteriorated or lost during the conversion of fabric into the final garment. Hence, garment finishing comes into play to obviate these issues. In addition, production of customised designs in specific locations of a garment, and some value-added finishes, are only feasible in the final garment. This chapter covers the techniques used for garment finishing. Essential information on the mechanical and chemical finishing of garments made from various fibres and denim products is covered. Furthermore, developments the garment industries may face in the future are discussed.