Materials Testing

Ensuring a high-quality, high-performing and safe product should be top of your agenda as a designer or brand, but as one committed to sustainable and ethical practices, these criteria take on new layers of meaning. Creating a long-lasting, durable product will ensure your output is meaningful, likely to be treasured for years to come, and not going to be discarded due to a lack of due diligence in materials testing.

This Masterclass is led by Sarah Blackham, a fashion professional with over 20 years experience in the industry. Through a course of five in-depth Lessons, follow Sarah's expert guidance to build your knowledge of materials testing, product regulations and directives, and safety compliance, so you can approach this complex and technical stage of your manufacturing with confidence.

As we are considering the affect that poor quality materials have on our bodies, we also take a focus on skin-friendly material innovations, answer questions around the dyes in your fabrics and, debunk some common misconceptions about how materials are produced.

In this Masterclass, you will learn:

How to identify common faults in different fashion fabric types and what causes them to occur, both during manufacturing and in wash and wear
About the fabric testing machines you're likely to encounter during production, how they test fabrics, and key considerations for your respective products
What fabric tests are used for testing colour fastness, physical and mechanical performance, and chemical content
What the difference is between a regulation and a directive and common examples of regulations and their criteria for garments and accessories
Why materials testing is crucial for attaining sustainable, ethical, and environmentally-friendly products in your range
The types of fibres and fabrics you may want to incorporate into your range for a skin-friendly line
How to identify and replace toxic chemicals and your supply chain, and why you should care
What chrome tanning for leather really is, and considerations for your leather products

Let's get started!

Normalising Chronic Skin Conditions Through Holistic Design + [Professional Member Highlight]
with Joanna Blein

Summary

Joanna Blein, founder of Feel Good Couture™ and eczema skin warrior, joined us to explain the effect that clothing has on those suffering from chronic skin conditions. After another hospitalisation, Joanna's 40 years of experience with severe eczema led her to finally take the plunge and launch a lifestyle brand that would assess the needs of other skin warriors alongside her own. Aiming to normalise skin conditions, while increasing confidence and wellbeing through stylish yet comfortable designs, Joanna's business is genuinely bringing something new to market - it was not being able to find it aged 15, that got her juices flowing in the first place.
Tuck in to raise your awareness on a little discussed topic, and increase your knowledge in researching sympathetically for such a business.

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Identifying Common Faults In Fashion Fabrics
with Sarah Blackham

Summary

Product technologist Sarah Blackham takes us through a three-part session on fabric testing. In part one we identify common faults in fashion fabrics, with a look at considerations you should make when working and communicating with a fabric producer.
Thumbnail image: www.intouch-quality.com

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What Are Skin-Friendly Fabrics?
with Mery Díez Herbosa

Summary

In this bitesize Lesson, Mery Diez Herbosa, representing the team behind PYRATES Smart Fabrics, provides a helpful introduction to skin-friendly fabrics, including which toxic chemicals you should be avoiding and which properties to embrace for clothing that is healthy for the skin and the environment!

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Understanding Fabric Testing Types And Pre-Production Due Diligence
with Sarah Blackham

Summary

Product technologist Sarah Blackham takes us through a three-part session on fabric testing. In part two we learn to understand the fabric testing types a testing facility can do for you, as well as fabric tests that you can do for small production runs by using due diligence.
Thumbnail image: https://sosopoetry.blogspot.com

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Recognising Common Fabric Tests And Test Report Information
with Sarah Blackham

Summary

Product technologist Sarah Blackham takes us through a three-part session on fabric testing. In part three we learn to recognise the common fabric tests and their regulations and directives (see the next session for more on this), along with how to read and understand the common fabric test reports.
Thumbnail image: www.diversifiedtestinglabs.com

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Introduction To Regulations And Directives
with Sarah Blackham

Summary

Product technologist Sarah Blackham joins us to introduce what regulations and directives are, along with highlighting key chemical tests, laboratories and websites to get you started on material and product testing. This is part one. Part two covers in more detail regulations and directives for toys, childrenswear and UV accessories/swimwear.
Thumbnail image: www.ngcsoftware.com

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Regulations And Directives For Toys, Childrenswear And UV Accessories
with Sarah Blackham

Summary

Product technologist Sarah Blackham follows up her part one Introduction to Regulations and Directives with this more in-depth look at regulations and directives you should be aware of when producing toys, childrenswear or UV accessories and swimwear, along with your manufacturing obligations.
Thumbnail image: www.ispo.com

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