The aim of this study was to explore the influence of fabric air permeability, open apertures and fit (tight/loose) of clothes on the clothing ventilation. To examine the effect of air permeability of fabric on clothing ventilation, the ventilation rate of four jackets and pants with identical design but with different air permeability (air resistance : 1.1, 2.0, 2.5, ∞kPa･s/m) was determined for a subject under conditions of standing in still air and walking in air moving at 1 m/s. In addition tests were performed with the smaller and larger jackets and pants with their openings at neck, jacket hem, wrist cuffs, and pants cuffs both opened and closed, under the same conditions, to examine the effect of the openings on the ventilation. The ventilation was influenced by three factors: fabric air permeability, open apertures and fit (tight/loose) of clothes. Furthermore, the ventilation was modified by wind and body movement. As a result, the modification in the clothing microclimate ventilation differed from one region of the body to another. The ventilation was significantly increased in the back, upper arms and legs region by the improvement of fabric air permeability, in the upper and lower limbs by a loose fit, and in the trunk and upper limbs region by openings at neck, jacket hem, wrist cuffs and pants cuffs under the walking condition. The results indicated the possibility of adjusting the clothing ventilation in various body regions by fabric air permeability, open apertures and looseness of fit for realistic designing of sportswear.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.28/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE