Textile Research
My research combines textile science with apparel design, focusing on how materials perform across comfort, durability, and visual quality. Through laboratory testing conducted in Florida State University’s ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab®, I evaluate fabrics using industry-standard equipment and methods to better understand thermal behavior, color performance, and material construction under simulated wear conditions. This work bridges technical analysis with practical applications in apparel product development.
Thermal Manikin
The Thermetrics ANDI Thermal Manikin is an advanced testing system used to evaluate apparel comfort and performance by simulating real human physiology within controlled environmental conditions. Located in Florida State University’s ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab®, FSU’s ANDI was the first dynamic sweating thermal manikin housed at a public institution anywhere in the world. The chamber can recreate environments ranging from extreme heat to subfreezing temperatures, while ANDI simulates human movement, body heat, and perspiration through 144 independently controlled sweat pores.
Using ANDI, I conduct thermal comfort and performance testing to evaluate insulation, heat transfer, moisture management, and evaporative resistance across a variety of textile systems and layered apparel combinations. Much of this work focuses on firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), where material behavior and garment construction are critical to both comfort and safety.
Spectrophotometry
Spectrophotometry is used to measure and evaluate color in textiles with a level of precision that goes beyond visual inspection alone. Using a spectrophotometer, I analyze how fabrics reflect light under controlled conditions to compare color across different materials, dye lots, and production runs. This helps ensure consistency throughout the development process and allows even small color differences to be identified and corrected before production.
Alongside spectrophotometry, I also conduct colorfastness testing to evaluate how fabrics respond to laundering, abrasion, perspiration, and environmental exposure over time. These tests help determine how well a textile maintains its intended appearance throughout wear and use. My work in this area is supported by strong color evaluation skills, including a Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test error score of 2.83, reflecting a high level of sensitivity to subtle color variation.
Durability & Performance
Durability and performance testing focuses on how textiles hold up through repeated wear, movement, and environmental exposure. Using industry-standard AATCC and ASTM testing methods, I evaluate fabric behavior across areas including abrasion resistance, pilling, tear strength, bursting strength, dimensional stability, and moisture management. These tests help identify how different materials and fabric constructions respond to stress over time and provide a clearer understanding of long-term product performance.
Through this work, I analyze how factors such as fiber content, yarn structure, fabric construction, and finishing treatments influence overall durability and functionality. The data collected through these evaluations supports informed decisions in material selection, product development, and quality assessment, particularly for apparel intended for demanding or high-performance use.
