Highlights Medical gowns are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and medical professionals. Due to shortages of PPE during surge capacity situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC recommends washable cloth isolation gowns be used. Multiple-use gowns are superior from an environmental perspective, as well as, from a protection and durability standpoint. Reusable gowns provide greater water resistance, strength, and pilling resistance than disposable gowns. Industrial laundering does not negatively affect the protection or performance of reusable gowns across the expected service lifespan.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare a set of product specifications to evaluate appearance and performance characteristics of denim jeans at three price categories, and identify any relationships between price and product quality. Design/methodology/approach This research is as a quasi-experimental laboratory study. The product specifications of jeans are identified. Next, the appearance and performance characteristics of jeans are examined initially and after one and five repeated laundering cycles. The data are analyzed within and between each price category to identify any possible relationship between price and product quality. Findings The price category of jeans does not necessarily reflect different dimensions of product quality. Although higher priced jeans had superior product specifications and visual appearance, they did not show superior performance with respect to all elements of fit, durability, and color performance when these three factors were measured through laboratory testing. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study from a research perspective include a small sample size, gender-focused sample selection. and the focus on only three retail categories. These limitations impact the generalizability of the results but could serve as a basis for similar studies. The evaluated product quality attributes were limited to intrinsic/measurable characteristics. Future studies should consider the extrinsic attributes of quality, especially as they are related to consumer’s purchasing decision. Practical implications Retailers in moderate and budget price categories can benefit from educating consumers about the quality attributes of jeans that would ultimately influence their post-purchase experience and are not necessarily related to the product’s price category. Educators can use this information to assist in teaching students about the multiple dimensions of materials and assembly choices, and how this will impact their final products as they are learning the apparel product development process. Originality/value The focus of this study on the quantification of intrinsic product attributes is unique and provides measurable data for product evaluation by consumer researchers and industry. The results of this research identify the strengths and weaknesses in the appearance and performance characteristics of jeans in different price categories, and how those may affect consumers’ purchase intention.

The purpose of this research was to identify the composition of soils on firefighter turnout gear and to determine the dermal exposure risks associated with the soils. Nine used Nomex hoods from the Philadelphia fire department were analyzed for the presence of trace metals and seven sets of used turnout gear were analyzed for semi-volatile organics. Turnout gear samples were removed from areas of the gear known to have high levels of dermal absorption including the collar, armpit, wrist, and crotch areas, from either the outer shell or thermal liner layers. The following compounds were detected: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate plasticizers, and polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs). A screening risk assessment was conducted by converting the measured concentrations to an estimated dermally absorbed dose based on estimates for the permeation coefficient (Kp) and an assumed firefighting exposure scenario. Benzo(a) pyrene had the highest dermal exposure risk based on carcinogenic effects and PBDE-99 had the highest dermal exposure risk based on non-carcinogenic effects. For the metals, arsenic had the highest dermal exposure risk for the use hoods.

To evaluate the serviceability of a new textile product made of an unconventional fiber blend, it is important to determine if the fabric meets the specific standards required for the intended end-use. The value-added textile products of interest are fabrics made of 50/50 kenaf/cotton in the filling direction and 100% cotton in the warp direction, made in sateen, plain, twill, and oxford weaves. The control fabrics are of 100% cotton in only the plain and sateen weaves. The fabrics are characterized and compared based on ten of the most common fabric properties that affect their performance in everyday use: thread count, thickness, weight, breaking strength and elongation, dimensional stability, wrinkle recovery, abrasion resistance, tear strength, staining and stain release, and pilling resistance. Breaking strength of the experimental fabrics compares well with the control fabrics. Elongation at break is greater in the warp direction (19–35%) than in the filling direction (11–15%), but this difference is not significant. Wrinkle recovery for both fabrics is the same and improves over time. Shrinkage is identical in both fabrics. There is no significant difference in the stiffness of the two fabrics, possibly due to the carding step where kenaf fibers are carded to resemble cotton fibers. Abrasion and pilling resistance are good to excellent. Tear resistance is lower for the experimental fabrics compared with the controls, but it does pass the requirements for both upholstery and apparel fabrics. Kenaf/cotton blends perform the same or better than 100% cotton in their ability to release water-based stains, but the oil stain rates between 3 and 4, indicating a residual stain. Stain resistance can be improved by applying a soil-resistant finish. This study demonstrates that kenaf/cotton blend fabrics meet or exceed the performance requirements for both apparel ( i.e., outer wear items such as barn jackets, hunting vests, overalls, and caps) and upholstery fabrics. Additional advantages of the blend fabrics may be luster, interesting texture, and lightness.