Quantitative Analysis of Stiffness and Softness in Polyester Sports Jersey Fabrics

This study investigates the quantitative analysis of stiffness and softness properties of sports jersey fabrics. Four 100% polyester microfibre sports jersey fabrics, which are mini mesh, polar eyelet, eyelet, and interlock fabrics, were tested under controlled laboratory conditions. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc statistical analysis showed significant differences in wale and course directions among the fabric types (p < 0.05). Eyelet fabric exhibited the highest softness properties while also demonstrating structural stiffness, with bending lengths of 0.89 cm (wale) and 0.88 cm (course), and flexural rigidity of 19.29 mg·cm (course). Despite its soft tactile feel, these values indicate resistance to bending. In contrast, the polar eyelet demonstrated the least resistance to bending, with the lowest bending length of 0.65 cm in both directions. Mini mesh fabric showed the highest pliability, having the lowest flexural rigidity of 7.00 mg·cm, making it the least stiff fabric overall. The study highlights that fabric mass per unit area, thickness, and structural design significantly influence tactile properties. This paper provides the importance of tactile properties in fabric selection for optimizing athlete comfort in sportswear.