Overview
Natural fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, and fabric constructions were evaluated and tested in terms of moisture transfer, temperature regulation, breathability and water vapor resistance. The physiological conditions of sleep in moderate and extreme ambient conditions were considered in order to optimizing materials and design. The project also entailed intensive analysis of existing products in the sleep textile market, qualitative studies on sleeping positions, and lay surveys on personal sleep behavior. The Dagsmejan project team divided sleepwear into three different product lines: basic, cool and warm.
This research project combines HSLU expertise on design methods with empirical measurements from Empa. Its results can be applied to market oriented product development; they describe a vision for the material and technological characteristics of sleep textiles and design criteria for their formal features. The results are summarized with the following information in the form of a multipart design guide:
1) Core values of Dagsmejan, division of offering into three lines (basic, cool, warm)
2) Suggested materials for the three lines: physiological requirements, fibers and characteristics, possible fabric types
3) Product language for the three lines: design elements, product associations, mood boards, workmanship details
4) Silhouettes for the three lines: possible items of clothing, comfort through specifically defined volume
5) Body mapping for the three lines: figures with areas of the body marked where specific functions need to be located on the product
The research carried out amounted to a third of the initially envisaged research plan. Research fields on the relationship between functionality and textile construction (relative density and looseness, fabric weight), on the production of warp knit with natural fibers, and on sleep comfort and its validation were therefore have still to be addressed. Questions about total sleep systems (interaction with duvets and mattresses) and their influence on sleep quality also remain unanswered and will be addressed in the planned follow-up project.
