The Use Of Heat Setting As A Surface Design Technique For Polyester Fabrics And Its Applications In Commercial Lifestyle Products

Fabric has the power to humanize our living environment. Textiles have always had an ability to demarcate space, absorb sound and create decorative elements. With these characteristics, it is not difficult to explore the full potential of heat setting on polyester as a decorative surface design technique. Utilizing the heat setting properties of polyester, a range of fabrics has been designed and applied within the use of interiors. Within the interior context, fabrics’ potential uses include: upholstery, to cover furniture; to cover cushions; curtains, blinds and other forms of window drapery; as bed linens and table linens. Fabric may also be applied to walls, like wallpapers, in panels as screens or partitions. Fabrics can also be designed into light shades and even a lighted partition. This paper will focus on the use of the heat setting technique on polyester fabrics; with its thermoplastic qualities, polyester fabrics can be pleated and moulded into 3D structural forms. The process of heat setting will be discussed and how these heat set polyester fabrics are further developed into applications within the commercial lifestyle range will be explained. The potential of the heat setting technique, with it’s inherent flexibilities and it’s capacity to be moulded and given a 3D form has created vast possibilities in the area of interior fabrics and products.