Soft-hand finish
Also known as: Softener finish, Soft-touch finish, Hand builder
Textile after-treatment with softening agents for a particularly soft, smooth and pliable hand.
Description
The soft-hand effect is the tactile result of a softener finish applied in the last stage of finishing. The active ingredients form a thin film around the fibre, reduce friction and give the textile a markedly softer, more supple hand. The main groups are cationic, non-ionic, silicone and amino-silicone softeners.
Silicone softeners deliver the characteristic fluffy peach-skin hand on sportswear, while cationic softeners produce smoother, glossier goods. The effect is not permanent — it fades with every wash and can be partially restored with fabric conditioner. For sport and performance wear, hydrophilic silicones are preferred so moisture transport is not blocked. OEKO-TEX-certified textiles rely on formaldehyde- and PFC-free softeners.
- Reduces inter-fibre friction → notably softer hand
- Silicones deliver a fluffy "peach-skin" feel
- Effect fades with washing but can be refreshed
- Choose hydrophilic softeners for breathable performance wear
Properties
| Active agents | Cationic, silicone or amino-silicone softeners |
|---|---|
| Effect | Soft, smooth hand, partly peach-skin effect |
| Durability | Not permanent — decreases with washing |
| Application | T-shirts, baby textiles, bed linen, sport shirts |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Fabric softener (English) Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabric_softener
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 OEKO-TEX Association https://oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards
