TABLE OF CONTENTS

Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2001
(View Cover Page or Announcements)

CONSUMER PURCHASE DATA AS A STRATEGIC PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TOOL

Traci May-Plumlee and Trevor J. Little
North Carolina State University

As the apparel market becomes progressively more competitive and market driven, manufacturing firms must cultivate the ability to design and develop products responsive to the changing wants and needs of their customers. Product attribute analysis of consumer purchases provides insight into product preferences and changing preferences over time. This study examined the attributes of intimate apparel purchased in a department store. Patterns of consumer's preferences were found in the attributes of products purchased when analyzed both overall and individually by manufacturer. In addition, this research examined use of attributes to forecast purchase behavior and to identify features important for product development. Results of the study have implications for the use of point of sale (POS) data by manufacturers of apparel products.

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THE ROLE OF FIBER FINISH ON DRAFTING BEHAVIOUR

William Oxenham
North Carolina State University

The general behavior of slivers during drawing is simulated by means of a faller device mounted on an Instron Tensile Tester. The load generated during drafting is measured and the shape of load displacement curves is critically analyzed. The differences between lubricated and non-lubricated slivers tested at different speeds are presented, along with an indication of the influence of the number of active fallers. It is shown that the peak drawing force could be used as a possible criterion in judging the effects of lubricants on drafting.

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MICROSTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN POLYESTER BIOTEXTILES DURING IMPLANTATION IN HUMANS

Martin W. King
North Carolina State University &
Quebec Biomaterials Institute, Laval University, CHUQ, Saint-Francois d'Assise Hospital,

Ze Zhang and Robert Guidoin
Quebec Biomaterials Institute, Laval University, CHUQ, Saint-Francois d'Assise Hospital

We have previously reported that polyester arterial prostheses experience losses in strength and molecular weight while implanted in humans over extended periods. This study used thermal analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and vapor phase dyeing techniques to characterize changes in the microstructure of poly(ethylene terephthalate) biotextiles retrieved from patients after 2 to 16 years in vivo. It found that polyester fibers become increasingly more crystalline due to hydrolytic biodegradation near the surface, which results in a loss of amorphous material, and through a slow annealing effect of the body, which at 37 ºC causes the larger crystalline domains to grow at the expense of the smaller ones.

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"Measures" For New Product Development

Muditha M. Senanayake and Trevor J. Little
North Carolina State University

Current measures for apparel product development are presented and described. The evolvement of the types of measurements are examined through the 1990's. The increase in the interest and changing emphasis in the area of product development is examined by analyzing the patent activity from 1971 to present. Published papers on the subject of textile and apparel product development show an increase throughout the 1990's. New trends, technologies and business practices are discussed in relation to the new era of product development competitiveness.

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