The Application of The Principle of Information Theory to Fabric Hand Evaluation

In this paper, the author applies the principle of information theory to probe the role that experience plays in the process of fabric hand evaluation. 8 experts and 8 non-experts, two group judges assessed 8 medium-weight worsted fabrics for men’s suiting. The results have been analysed. The data show that the expert group has the higher ability of handling instinct attributes of a fabric than the non-expert group do. In other words, the experts seem to be more sensitive to the change of fabric physical and mechanical properties than the non-experts. And when a expert assesses a fabric by hand, he introduces few subjective factors, that is to say, the result of the evaluation of touch quality of a fabric by a expert has higher objectivity or reliability. This may provide a fundamental or a train of thought for the objective assessment of fabric hand in textile science and technology.