Clothing & Textiles Centre
Research facilities
Well equipped laboratories include:
- controlled environmental chamber and conditioned spaces;
- tactile, visual and other sensory facilities;
- equipment/instrumentation for testing physical properties of materials and clothing (eg FAST, Nu-Martindale abrasion and pill tester, Instron tensile tester, microclimate air exchange system, SEM);
- access to data bases for epidemiological evaluation of protective clothing performance in injury prevention, particularly occupational-related injury.
Summary of selected research topics
A lightweight, low-cost cooling vest was designed, manufactured and trialed on human subjects during research commissioned by Sport Science New Zealand. The cool.1.nz™ cooling vest is now commercially available. See webpage for further information, ordering details and cool.1.nz™ users.
The size and shape of New Zealand babies, infants and children, firefighters and forest harvesters have been the subject of a variety of comprehensive anthropometric studies undertaken by the Clothing and Textiles Centre. Because of ethnicity and lifestyle factors, New Zealanders have a unique body shape that can lead to problems with the size and fit of clothing and equipment.
The role of clothing in prevention of injury to both occupational and aged populations is the focus of a number of current research projects.
Helmet design to facilitate thermoneutrality of forest harvesters was the topic of a study funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology /Logging Industry Research Organisation. The presence, location and dimension of vents in helmets was investigated for their effect on microclimate ventilation, physiological and sensory performance.
The Clothing and Textiles Centre and Liro Forestry Solutions has undertaken a survey of forestry workers (logging and silviculture) to determine the effectiveness of protective clothing and equipment.
The survey was in two parts. Part 1 dealt with the actual products worn on the day of the survey. Participants were asked questions on the age and fit of garments as well as whether they have had to replace parts or make repairs. Any problems or positive comments about the products were also recorded. A trained researcher evaluated each product worn and recorded details of wear and tear. The aim of this part of the study was to determine problems with existing garments and provide recommendations on how to improve products to manufacturers and distributors.
Part 2 dealt with what happened to the protective clothing/equipment in injury and near-miss events. The aim of this part of the study was to determine whether the protection offered by protective equipment/clothing was adequate.
Forestry workers in the Central North Island (Rotorua, Tokoroa, Taupo) and in the Southland, Otago and Canterbury areas have been surveyed.