Fabrics 101: How Do we Test Fabric Content?

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog but recently I’ve been inspired to talk about the more unknown side of the fashion world, the more science-y side if you will. I wanted to talk about the different types of tests we at Luvvy do to ensure the best quality and transparency for our fabrics. Luvvy is committed to bringing you, our clientele, into the inner workings of our brand, in hopes to share our knowledge to help you become an informed consumer! It’s important to know what you’re buying, how it can affect you and the world around you. In this blog, we’ll be going through just 4 types of fabric testing we can do. This is for all my fellow science and fashion lovers!

Stain Tests

This is typically the first test done on fabrics to evaluate how a fabric reacts when exposed to common substances like water, oil, or certain dyes. It helps determine how easily a fabric absorbs spills, how visible stains become, and how difficult they are to remove. This test is especially important for understanding a fabric’s practicality and how it performs in daily life. During a stain test we look for 4 things, 

1. Absorption. Does the liquid sit on the surface or absorb quickly? Faster absorption usually means higher porosity and potential staining risk. 

2. Spread. Does the stain spread or stay localized? Some fabrics wick liquids, creating larger stain areas.

3. Visibility. Is the stain highly visible or barely noticeable 

4. Removal. Does the stain easily blot out? Does it leave a watermark / discolouration around the area?

Results can vary depending on what liquid is used to do the test. These are most commonly done with special dye solutions. 

Colourfastness to Washing

This is one of the lesser-known tests done on fabrics that is actually more important than you may think! It measures how well a fabric retains its colour when exposed to water, detergent, and agitation. In more simple terms, it tells you whether a fabric will fade, bleed, or lose its vibrancy after washing. For lingerie and delicate garments, this is critical. We know our clients expect rich, lasting colour for years to come. When performing a colourfastness washing test we look for these 4 things,

1. Fading. Does the fabric lose intensity after washing? Bright or dark dyes are especially prone to fading

2. Bleeding. Does dye leak out into the water? It is crucial to the test to be able to see the water during washing.

3. Colour changes. This indicates instability in the dye used on the fabric. Most commonly we see red dyes turning a blue-ish colour. 

4. Fabric integrity. After the test is done, does it affect the fabrics texture, softness, or structure? 

While this tests wear and tear in the short term, the results help get a good estimate of what long-term wear and tear will be. 

Bleach Test

A bleach test measures how a fabric reacts to bleaching agents, helping identify fiber content and assess colour durability. Since different fibers respond uniquely to bleach, this test can reveal whether a fabric is natural, synthetic, or treated in some way. This involves simply dipping a small strip of fabric into the bleaching agent and observing. We look for 4 things when doing a bleach test, 

1. Colour change. This is very common with bleach but especially in natural fibers like cotton, which will almost always lighten in colour. 

2. Fiber reaction. Most protein fibers (wool, cashmere, silk, etc…) will dissolve, while some others like cotton may just weaken. 

3. Reaction speed. Some fibers experience immediate change, while others gradually change. 

4. Texture change. After being exposed to bleach, some fibers become brittle, rough, or even sticky like in lycra, elastane, spandex, etc…

Burn Tests

This test in my opinion is the coolest! You’ll find a video on Luvvy’s Instagram and LinkedIn page (@luvvyapparel everywhere online) A burn test is a simple, traditional method used to help identify the fiber content of a fabric by observing how it reacts to flame. Since different fibers burn in distinct ways, this test gives valuable clues about whether a material is natural, synthetic, or blended. During a burn test we look for 4 main things, 

1. The flame. How does the flame react? Does it ignite quickly or resist? 

2. The smell. Natural fibers will almost always smell like burning wood or burning hair. Synthetics typically smell like chemicals or plastic

3. The residue. Does the fabric melt or burn? Does it leave behind ash or a solid mass? What colour is the residue?

4. Smoke colour. The colour of the smoke can range from a bright white to a very cloudy black, we also look for how much or how little smoke comes from the fabric. 

With that being said, please do not try any of these tests without proper protective equipment and ventilation! Here at Luvvy, we are trained to do these things! Thank you for reading along, I hope you learned a little bit about the world of fabric testing, let us know what you’d like to read next!