Encyclopedia Archive

Ramie

Ramie fibre is white and lustrous and looks like silk, but it lacks stretch and elasticity. Extremely absorbent, much more than cotton, ramie fabric breathes well and makes comfortable clothing for warm and humid summers. Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibres and it is strong even when wet. Like linen, it will break if folded repeatedly in the…

Raschel Knit

May be of either high or low lustre. If the crepe effect is the right side of the fabric, I the fabric is called satin-back

Rayon

A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose in which substituents have replaced no more than 15% of the hydrogens of the hydroxyl groups (Federal Trade Commission definition). Rayon was the first major commercial synthetic fiber. There are three primary fiber production methods for rayon. The first, developed in 1890, was the cuprammonium process (see cupro fiber). The second, and the…

Reflective Insulation Technology

All materials emit energy by thermal radiation as a result of their temperature. The amount of energy or radiant heat reflected depends on the surface temperature. The higher the surface temperature is, the greater the reflection will be. Reflective Insulation Technology has been used by NASA since the earliest satellites and continues to be used today as the primary space…

Repellency

The ability of a fabric to resist such things as wetting and staining by water, stains, soil, etc.

Reprocessed Wool

Fibers reclaimed from scraps of fabric never previously used.

Resiliency

The ability of a fabric to spring back to its original shape after being twisted, crushed, wrinkled, or distorted in any way.

Resin

The name commonly applied to synthetic chemical compounds polymerized on the fabric or yarn to give wash-and-wear and durable press properties, crush resistance, dimensional stability, and hand to fabrics.

Resin Treated

A finishing process associated with the application of synthetic chemical compounds to the fabric to provide wrinkle-resistance, wash-and-wear characteristics, or an improved hand.

Rib Knit

A basic stitch used in weft knitting in which the knitting machines require two sets of needles operating at right angles to each other. Rib knits have a very high degree of elasticity in the crosswise direction. This knitted fabric is used for complete garments and for such specialized uses as sleeve bands, neck bands, sweater waistbands, and special types…