TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY
(Because any knowledge is good knowledge)

COMFORT

Wick-ability (e.g. a sweatband): The dispersion or spread of water— vertically or horizontally—by capillary action through a specific fabric area.

Absorbency (e.g. a car shammy): A fabric’s ability to take water internally into its fibers.

Adsorbency (e.g. water on a duck’s back): A fabric’s ability to hold water on the surface of its fibers.

Drying Rate (i.e. not soggy for long): The time necessary for a fabric to dry.

Insulation (e.g. whale blubber): Degree of resistance to heat transfer.

Water Repellency (i.e. science be some spooky stuff): A fabric’s ability to shed environmental water but to allow insensible perspiration to pass through.

Water Resistance(i.e. a barrier to any and everything that’s moist): A fabric’s ability to resist wetting and water penetration.

Moisture Content/Moisture Regain (e.g. check out the sweet equation): The amount of water in a fabric or fiber.
formula:

"Wet" Weight - Dry Weight   100
------------------------- X --- = % Moisture Content
       Dry Weight            1

Imbibed Water (e.g. sponges, etc): Water contained in a fabric’s interstices.

Stretch (i.e. supple, supple, supple): A fabric’s ability to extend under tension and then to recover relatively quickly and fully to its original dimensions.

Body-Movement Comfort (i.e. no tai chi necessary): A fabric’s ability to allow freedom of movement, reduced burden, and body shaping.