Development and Evaluation of BambooWool Non-Woven Textiles for Fashion Accessories Material Performance and Consumer Acceptance

Abstract

In this study, researchers investigated the production of new types of non-woven fabrics made from bamboo fibres, which are renewable biomass resources suitable for use in the development of fashion accessories. The study examined various aspects of bamboo fibre, including differences among three bamboo culm grades, and optimised bamboo-wool composite materials by performing both physical characterisation and assessing how consumers perceive these materials. To develop the bamboo composites, researchers used an experimental design methodology. They included the following methods in their experimentation process: Grading of Bamboo Culms into Grades A, B & C, Low-Impact Alkaline Fibre Extraction Methodology, Wet Felting Fabrication Process, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis, and Tensile Strength Testing of Composites. Researchers also conducted an online survey to assess whether consumers accept or reject the sustainable aesthetics of bamboo-based fashion accessories. Results showed that Grade A Bamboo had the best characteristics for processing efficiency and fibre structure. In addition, SEM images show better uniformity of fibre distribution and increased bonding forces between bamboo fibres when bamboo fibres were blended with wool. Also, results indicate that the most durable fabric tested contained 50 per cent bamboo and 50 per cent wool and produced the best combination of softness and resistance to shrinkage. Cotton-lined versions of this fabric were found to be the most structurally stable. In addition, results indicate that 92.5% of consumers who responded to our survey indicated that they would recommend purchasing one of our developed products. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis is demonstrated to be effective at predicting consumer behaviour (F(2,117) = 64.125, p < 0.001), accounting for approximately 52.3% of the variability associated with purchase intentions. Aesthetic appeal emerged as the primary determinant (β = 0.481, p < 0.001), followed closely by sustainability perception (β = 0.392, p < 0.001). While a formal environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was not conducted, meaning environmental performance was inferred from raw material selection and processing rather than directly quantified, the study concludes that bamboo–wool non-woven textiles offer a functional, visually appealing, and potentially low-impact alternative to conventional fashion accessory materials.