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IntroductionFabric quality alone does not fulfil all the criteria for production of high quality garments. The conversion of a two-dimensional fabric into a three-dimensional garment involves many other interactions[1] such as selection of a suitable sewing thread, optimization of sewing parameters, ease of conversion of fabric to garment and actual performance of a sewn fabric during wear of the garment.The selection of sewing thread for a fabric depends on the dimensional and mechanical properties of the fabric and the sewing thread, their compatibility, the sewing process and the end use of the garment [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Similarly the quality and performance of a sewn garment depends on various factors such as seam strength, slippage, puckering, appearance and yarn severance [4,12]. All these factors combined together contribute to sewability of the fabric which is considered to be one of the most important aspects of clothing science.The study of sewability in clothing manufacture in general and its importance, particularly in denim based clothing, has considerable relevance in today's advanced garment manufacturing processes. Modern garment manufacturing processes use motorized high-speed sewing machines, which exert very high tensions in the thread and also high forces of penetration of needles in the fabric [10,13]. As a result, both the sewing thread and the yarns in the fabric get abraded/severed during the seaming process. The extent of damage becomes more critical if the fabric being used is of a dense, thick and heavy construction such as denim. At the same time, if the sewing thread is not properly selected with respect to the construction of the fabric and nature of treatment the thread will get during sewing, the seam performance will deteriorate in the final garment. In the context of denim based garments, particularly trousers and jackets, sewing thread is not only used for joining the fabric but also for decorative purposes along the seam line. The thread poses a linear projection on the surface of the garments and is subjected to more abrasion than the garment. Therefore, unless the sewing thread chosen for a denim garment is stronger, it may break before the fabric does.This study evaluated the sewability of denim in relation to the dimensional and mechanical properties of the fabric and sewing threads.

With increasing awareness about the highly communicable bacteria and viruses, medical professionals and associations are making it mandatory to use protective surgical gowns to barrier the spreading of various diseases like SARS, HIV, hepatitis, etc. These diseases, which may be caused by a variety of microorganisms, can pose significant risks to human life and health unless sufficient measures are taken. Are medical professionals really feeling safe with existing surgical gowns prevalent in the market? Do these gowns provide absolute barrier to viruses along with providing comfort? Can we rely on the performance or is there something else we need to understand and modify? This article reveals some facts pertaining to these questions and precisely highlights various issues related to the development, application, and quality evaluation of surgical gowns. It also deals with the types of gowns available, their classification, technology behind them, technical aspects, testing means, their limitations, and future course of action to satisfy the growing needs of our health care professionals.

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