After a thorough study of the comfort properties of wool garments, as in comparison to garments made of synthetic fibers, found no evidence of wool being more comfortable, the need was expressed to examine the methodology of instrument-based comfort measurements.
Since the start of the project on 1 July 2018, a comprehensive electronic and paper-based literature search, covering the past 70 years, or so, of all scientific publications dealing in any way with the comfort of textile fibers, fabrics and clothing has been undertaken and completed.
Copies of relevant publications will be acquired and critically examined and evaluated, in terms of the nature, soundness and validity of the experimental conditions and instrumentation employed, as well as of the results, interpretation of results, findings and conclusions drawn, with specific focus on any limitations and/or weaknesses which could possibly explain the anomalies and often contradictory results. The outcome of the above process will be integrated and summarized in the form of a table, which sets out, in a concise format, the cogent details of the various studies and any associated weaknesses or limitations. A final report as well as a publication will be prepared. It is planned to complete the project by June 2020.