Shrinkage ( In fabric ) means expansion or desecration in length or width after washing. Shrinkage failing materials are dimensionally unstable and they can cause deforming of the garments or products made out of those materials.
Shrinkage may happen in any kind of wet processing or heat processing. The shrinkage may happen in lengthwise, or in widthwise, or in both ways.
Shrinkage is a negative effect in the garments if the garment shrinks more than a certain percentage (normally 2-3%). In case the fabric is not pre-shrunk whether it’s a knitted or a woven fabric, garment made from that fabric will shrink to some extent.
Why the fabric or garments shrinks
Reasons for fabric shrinkage includes followings –
- In weaving process the yarns are stretches and a high tension exists in the woven fabric
- In the fabric production processes (dyeing, printing and finishing process), the fabric is inevitably stretched by machine and tension exists in the fabric.
The fabric relieves its tension when it is get washed and tumble dried, which results in shrinkage in the fabric. Even if the fabric specimen dipped into water over a night fabric shrinks.
