Liquid solvent puts loops in jacket’s knit

Problem: Loops, which appeared all over a chenille jacket following drycleaning on a “sensitive” process, in a net bag, in fluorocarbon solvent.

Cause: As with many fabrics of this type, the chenille yarns are very loosely secured into the fabric structure. Tumbling in liquid solvent, which is 60% heavier than water, causes appreciable stretching and distortion of the fabric, even in a net bag, and this would have been more than sufficient to create the many loops seen here, which even spoiled protected fabric within the pockets.

Responsibility: The responsibility in this instance lies with the garment maker. A prototype from this garment range should have been properly checked for its cleaning performance—test drycleaning a piece of fabric would not have been sufficient.

Rectification: There is no sensible means by which this garment can be rectified. The customer was advised to return it to the place of purchase.