Hand feel

Hand feel (Hand, Fabric hand, Fabric feel) is the property of fabrics related to the touch that expresses sensory comfort. It refers to the way fabrics feel against the skin or in the hand and conveys information about the cloth's softness and smoothness. Hand feel is an estimated and subjective property of different fabrics, but nowadays, hand feel could be measured and assessed statistically. This terminology was commonly used in relation to wool, referred to as a 'wool term,' or in the broader textile industry to describe fabrics. When discussing wool, the term encompasses all the characteristics that contribute to its quality, including softness, fineness, length, and elasticity. These traits are typically perceived through touch. When evaluating the quality of woven fabrics, the attribute of "handle" is also a factor. This term refers to qualities like hardness, severity, softness, and smoothness, which are also assessed through touch and contribute to the overall quality of the fabric. Our daily life experiences are profoundly influenced by the sense of touch. Touch is the first sense to develop, beginning in the first trimester of pregnancy. During the next few months in the womb, the baby's entire body develops touch receptors. Around 7 weeks into pregnancy, touch is the first sense to develop in the fetus. Therefore, hand feel is an important characteristic of clothing that provides sensory comfort. Hand feel (also called handle or drape) is one of the basic characteristics that are necessary for sensory comfort that is related to tactile comfort. It is related to the friction between the clothes and the body. It is associated with smoothness, roughness, softness, and stiffness of clothing material. The degree of tactile discomfort may vary with individuals. Some of the terms that describe the tactile sensations are clingy, sticky, scratchy, prickly, soft, stiff, heavy, light and hard. There are different terms in use for describing the softness of textile materials. Wool trade term for the same is ''Handle'' or ''A good handling''.