The textile industry is no longer focusing on fabric development solely for fashion purposes;
instead,
the industry is paying more attention to the functional aspects of the fabric.
It is believed that “the garment should [be more than] just wearable,
it should serve multi-functions” (TTIS Textile Digest, 2008 , p. 25).
For example, many Thai consumers want apparel products that are “wrinkle free” to reduce product care. They also prefer apparel products such as “silk-plus” with added effects, like anti-bacterial qualities or UV protection (TTIS Textile Digest, 2008 ). Recently many textile and apparel companies have employed nanotechnology, such as DuPont's Teflonฎ to develop fabrics with stain release capabilities. These benefits are strong selling points and have been well-received by Thai consumers (TTIS Textile Digest, 2008 ).