Impact of different ease allowances on effective thermal insulation values of male jackets

One of the basic aspects of clothing item and clothing in general that should be addressed is its ergonomic function and how it fits the body. Classical pattern design and prototype construction is based on initial body measurements determined on resting human body and expressed as standard ease allowance, but those dimensions are usually not sufficient to fully define adequate level of wearing comfort. Another important factor is thermo – physiological comfort which is one of three basic aspects of clothing comfort and directly interlinked to overall perception of comfort. Sensible and latent heat transfer is managed from human body through layer of air entrapped in microclimatic region formed between body and clothing. The volume of microclimatic air layer of clothing is directly connected to ease allowance values provided as standard, dynamic, mechanical and ergonomic ease allowance value. Thermal insulation value of clothing is measured by means of thermal manikins. This paper won’t give the answer on establishing the amount of air layers entrapped in microclimatic region but will address how ease allowance value added to chest girth and waist girth in pattern design of male jackets, influence the thermal insulation values and overall satisfaction with thermal attributes of clothing.