Abstract

Sewability is one of the essential parameters influencing the garment making process as well as the quality of the final product. In this work, sewability of sheep nappa leathers was measured in terms of seam efficiency and was correlated with related mechanical properties. Seam efficiency was found to be between 44 and 99% for the sheep nappa leathers employed in this study. Among the various mechanical properties studied, elongation at break seems to influence the seam efficiency significantly as evidenced from the correlation coefficient value of 0.99. While tensile strength and seam strength also had fairly good relation with seam efficiency with correlation coefficient values greater than or equal to 0.90. Formability, breaking strength and stitch tear strength (double hole) exhibited a correlation coefficient of ≥0.80 with seam efficiency, indicating a high dependency.While most of these parameters had direct relation with seam efficiency, initial tensile modulus had an inverse relation. Flexural rigidity did not show any significant relation with seam efficiency. The results obtained in this study would form a basis for designing and fabricating of leather garments.