TITLE:
Development of a Sustainable Fiber-Padded Hanger Design for Reducing Hanger-Induced Shoulder Deformation and Appearance Loss in Wool Knitted Jackets
AUTHORS:
Müge Yıldırım, Damla Erdem, Özge Ural, Emine Dilara Koçak
KEYWORDS:
Knitted Jacket, Merino Wool, Hanger Design, Dimensional Stability, Wrinkle Appearance, Shoulder Deformation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Textile Science and Technology,
Vol.12 No.4,
November
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: In this study, the performance of novel fiber-wrapped hanger designs developed using recycled polyester nonwoven strips was investigated to reduce hanger-induced deformation in women’s knitted jackets produced from an 80% Merino wool/20% polyamide blend during retail display and storage conditions. Hangers with fiber-wrapping thicknesses of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mm were developed and compared with a conventional retail hanger and two commercial hanger models (KA3800 and KA3900). Shoulder angle change, mass distribution, fabric elongation, fabric recovery, seam-line deformation, and wrinkle appearance were evaluated as performance parameters. All experiments were conducted with five replicates, and the obtained data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results demonstrated that fiber wrapping significantly improved load distribution in the shoulder area and reduced deformation-related defects. In particular, the 20 mm and 25 mm fiber-wrapped hangers exhibited the lowest shoulder angle change and seam-line deformation, together with the highest recovery and wrinkle appearance ratings. The findings indicate that the proposed hanger designs provide an effective solution for preserving the dimensional stability and aesthetic appearance of wool-based knitted garments during long-term hanging storage and retail display.