Evaluating pineapple/cotton fabrics as winter garments using Kawabata evaluation system

Purpose Natural fibers are gaining attention as eco-friendly, cost-effective and high-performance materials. Pineapple leaf fiber stands out for its low density, light weight, affordability, biodegradability and renewability. The purpose of this study is to explore the production of fabrics from pineapple fibers, cotton and their blends to evaluate the potential of using pineapple fibers as a sustainable alternative to cotton. Design/methodology/approach Pineapple, cotton and pineapple blended with cotton using twill 3/1 and matt 2/2 weave structures were produced. The weight, air permeability and low-stress properties (tensile, shear, bending, compression and surface) of these samples were evaluated and compared by calculating the primary and total hand values (THVs) using the Kawabata evaluation system. Findings Results indicated that the produced fabrics were suitable for men’s jackets, women’s thin dresses and men’s suit applications, with an accepted THV ranging from average to excellent. The twill pineapple fabric reached the highest weight, air permeability and THV = 6.4 as a men’s suit; it was evaluated as excellent for this application. Research limitations/implications Only twill 3/1 and matt 2/2 weave structures were used, as they are common. In addition, the blending of cotton/pineapple comes from inserting one pineapple yarn and then one cotton yarn in the weft direction, as blending fibers were not reachable. Originality/value Original study of producing pineapple, cotton and a blend of them fabrics, ensuring replacing cotton fibers with pineapple fibers availability as a waste natural source for reaching eco-friendly products.