Glossary term
Breathability
The ability of a garment or fabric to move water vapour from inside to outside — critical to wearer comfort during high-exertion use.
Definition
Breathability is quantified by MVTR and other standardised tests (e.g. RET).
A fabric's breathability is only as useful as the finished garment's — every tape-sealed seam, zip and interface is a potential bottleneck.
Why it matters to DSEAMS
Preserving breathability across every seam is one of the core performance claims of Cohesive CIBS and Liquants AES.
Related terms
- MVTRA measure of how much water vapour can pass through a fabric per square metre per day — a proxy for breathability.
- Waterproof-breathableA fabric construction that blocks liquid water from entering while allowing water vapour to pass through — enabling sweat to escape from a sealed garment.
- Barrier membraneThe thin functional layer inside a laminate that blocks liquid water while allowing vapour to pass.