Abstract
The garment industry's new drive towards high value addedproducts is prompted by increasing competition from other countries. Currentsize of apparel industry is 45 Billion US$, which is 40% of the world market,highest amongst the other potential segments-Technical Textiles (18%), HomeTextiles (20%). Worldwide chemical consumption in apparel segment is around60%. Chemicals play a very significant role be it giving a class of touchthrough the effects colorful prints to soft handle, from easy care to nanofinish and so on. But, the use of chemicals in finishing has created illiciteffects of the environment as a whole.
Textile industries are facing a challenging in the field ofquality and productivity, due to the globalization. The highly competitiveatmosphere and the more stringent ecological parameters make way forinnovations and changes in the present processes.
Textile industries must look to provide one-stop sustainablesolution along the whole textile value chain from pretreatment, through dyeingto finishing. The understanding of how to minimize the impact of theirproduction on the environment and maximize quality, innovation and efficientsolutions using intelligent chemistry and eco friendly treatments must be theirlong term goal. This will promote eco friendly garments as a whole andcounterbalance the harmful effects of the present day chemicals.
Thereby, Garment industries are developing textiles withsmart functioning using new ecological products to provide extra comfort and increasedperformance in an eco friendly manner.
Introduction
Garment Finishing though is synonymous word for the processin Denim industry called "Washing Effects", has now extended to theprocessing of whole range of ready garments from shirt, T-shirt, trouser,jacket to all types of clothing. In apparels, chemicals are widely used to addvalue to garments through effects varying from various feels such as soft,supple, dry feel, bouncy feel etc. and/or to adding to the functionality anddurability of the garment such as water-oil repellant finish, wrinkle freefinish, moisture management, stain protection, to name a few Both natural andsynthetic textiles are subjected to a variety of finishing processes. This isdone to improve specific properties in the finished fabric and involves the useof a large number of finishing agents for softening, cross-linking, andwaterproofing.
A suitable textile processing method that delivers not onlyeco friendly finished products but also does not hamper the surroundingatmosphere and environment by way of polluting the air and water respectively,due to emissions and effluent water discharges.
Now world around us is fully aware of the implications ofthe damages already done to it for its water and environmental resourcesby way of gas and effluent discharges from polluting industries such astextile and leather processing. In order to reduce and save earth from thepollutions of industries, automotives etc., there comes in to existencestipulated norms and standards for the finished goods and the way of operation.
Throughout the world almost all countries have forms certainrules and regulations for importing and exporting processed textilegoods. This paper depicts the various textile finishes employed in thefinishing of garments with a major concern on the environment and newinnovative concepts that can be employed in finishing.
Theauthor is studying in III year, B.Tech (Textile Technology) at K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology
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