Garment finishing consists of a series of processes performed in fabric to enhance its aesthetics, feel and handle. The treatment can be either mechanical or chemical in nature. Scouring with detergents or alkaline solutions removes foreign materials from the fabric surface. Shearing or singeing smoothes the fabric by removing fine protruding fibers. Fabric bleaching or dyeing gives it a desired color. Finishing recipes can also add technical properties to the fabric like making it waterproof or fire-resistant, soft or odour-free, and so on.
Staining repellents are applied to fabrics that tend to get soiled easily, as they prevent the stains from remaining over the surface of the fabric. These finishes also improve the appearance of the fabric by enhancing its sheen.
Antimicrobial finishing is applied to fabrics and garments to kill or control microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that cause diseases. The antimicrobial finishing process uses specialty chemicals like biquanides, phenols and their derivatives, isothiazolones, metals, ammonium compounds or alcohols to treat the fabric.
Another popular and sought after apparel finishing process is the flame retardant finish. This treatment makes the fabric less flammable and more durable by adding an additive to the fibers that slows down the rate of fire propagation. This is particularly useful for fabrics that are designed to be used in fire-prone applications like underwear, sleepwear, or outerwear.
Other common textile finishing processes include sizing, mercerization, abrasion, desizing, and preshrinking. Sizing helps to make the fabric softer and more resistant to shrinkage. Mercerization increases the strength and elasticity of the fabric. Desizing and preshrinking reduce the size of the fabric and make it easier to handle.
Some of the other important apparel finishing processes include ironing, folding and tagging and packing of the finished garments. The packing of the garments in poly bags is done to protect them from any moisture or heat damage. The tagging and labeling of the garments is done to indicate the buyer’s specification.
The last finishing procedure is washing the garments to remove any residual finishes or dyes. This is an essential step for the quality of the garments. It is very important to use a high-quality washing machine for this purpose. The washing machines must be carefully calibrated to ensure that the garments are not washed with excessive amounts of soap or detergent, which can damage the fabric and result in bad odors and discoloration.
The cutting, making and trimming (CMT) manufacturing is a service offered by factories that turn your design specifications, tech packs, fabrics, patterns and stitching requirements into fully-produced products. In order to complete this task, manufacturers use various machines and technology for a fast and precision finish. The first stage in this process is pattern cutting, which entails the fabric being cut according to the specified measurements and grading supplied by the customer. Afterwards, the manufacturers will move onto the next stage, which is stitching the fabric together to form the finished garments. The sewing process can be completed by machinery or by hand to create a precise stitch. apparel finishing
