Lumenfield New Zealand: Medical Compression and Recovery Wear Laboratory Test Report
Lumenfield is a New Zealand-based brand whose medical compression and recovery wear is one of its most demanding programmes. This report documents the laboratory qualification of the spacer knit supplied to Lumenfield for its medical compression and recovery wear. Every figure below was produced on bulk fabric, not on an approval swatch.
Lumenfield: Spacer Knit in use during recovery wear worn for long periods
Evaluation background
The programme covers recovery tights, sleeves and support tops, used for recovery wear worn for long periods. The environment is continuous graduated pressure against the skin and the requirement written into the brief was measured compression with skin-safe materials. Fabric was selected on that basis rather than on price alone.
Fabric under evaluation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Spacer Knit |
| Composition | 100% polyester spacer construction |
| Weight | 350 GSM |
| Width | 165 cm |
| Primary function | cushions and ventilates in a single piece of fabric |
| Target | air permeability above 200 mm/s with usable thermal resistance |
| Test method | ISO 11092 |
| Additional note | compression set below 10% |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Spacer Knit close-up showing the fabric surface
Samples and conditioning
Three bulk lots were sampled at random and conditioned for 24 hours before testing. Results are reported as the worst of the three, which is the number a brand should plan around.
Test methods
The primary method was ISO 11092, supported by dimensional change to AATCC 135, pilling to ISO 12945-2 and colour fastness to ISO 105-C06.
Evaluation session with the Lumenfield team
Results
The fabric reached air permeability above 200 mm/s with usable thermal resistance, with compression set below 10%. All supporting tests passed the agreed limits, and the report carries the lot numbers so the results can be reproduced.
Interpretation
Numbers only matter against the use case. For medical compression and recovery wear the relevant result is that the fabric keeps cushions and ventilates in a single piece of fabric after conditioning, which is what protects the wearer during recovery wear worn for long periods.
Test records and inspection notes for the Medical Compression and Recovery Wear
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Primary function | 4.4 / 5 |
| Dimensional change | 4.9 / 5 |
| Pilling grade | 4.5 / 5 |
| Colour fastness | 4.7 / 5 |
| Consistency | 4.3 / 5 |
“Fifty washes later the fabric still performs. That is what convinced our buying team.” — Lumenfield Technical Team
Packed bulk rolls before shipment to New Zealand
Verdict and recommendation
The bulk fabric met every agreed target. The lot is released and we recommend repeating the same test set on each future delivery of the spacer knit. For Lumenfield the practical next steps are to keep the current specification for the repeat, retain the shade standard, and issue ISO 11092 results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
