| A recent fashion trend that continues to pick up steam is the "wash and wear" look we've all seen around the office. It may consist of chinos and a long-sleeved cotton shirt for men, perhaps a shirtwaist dress paired with a jaunty scarf for women. How did this casual, relaxed look evolve? We have the new breed of wrinkle-free fabrics to thank. Everyone is short on time and ironing is a pain. So in the early 1990s, textile companies began to apply finishing agents to fabrics to prevent or decrease wrinkles. These particular chemical agents act as catalysts that cross-link polymer chains in the cotton weaving, giving the material some elasticity and resilience. In short, this treatment makes clothes wrinkle-free. According to information from IndiaMart's apparel trade promoters, today's widely-adopted "wrinkle-free" technology was first introduced in mens trousers and patented back in 1992. The look spread to men's shirts, womenswear, and babywear, and from high-end fashion designers to bargain retailers. So in the case of the current wrinkle-free trend, as well as earlier incarnations of wash and wear clothing, convenience and mobility were the inspiration. |
