Testing fabrics and choosing clothing – natural, man-made and blended fibers

Design & TechnologyFood & TextilesAges 11–12

A fabric-testing lab with four familiar tests: drop water to check absorbency, crease the fabric to check wrinkling, burn a fiber to check the ash, and test heat retention. Choose a fabric (cotton, silk, wool, viscose, polyester or a blend), click a button to run each test and see the result shown on screen alongside a chart of five properties. The simulation then scores how well the outfit suits the chosen weather and activity, with advice on choosing and caring for the fabric.