The phenomena of fabric hand is one of the most significant characteristics in determining fabric marketing, and providing the fabric scope of end-uses, performance, and appearance.

For several decades, the study of fabric hand has attracted interest of research and development in engineering groups, textiles and fiber scientists, statisticians, fabric designer industrialists, and dyers and finishers. Many groups and committees were formed to elucidate the fundamental aspects of fabric hand, either by subjective assessments or by a more quantitative approach of objective measurements relating to the physical and mechanical properties of the fabric.

Subjective assessments of fabric hand by human judges rely on psychophysical approaches or psychological techniques. Psychophysical approaches use consumer judges, because sensory evaluation of fabric hand by consumers gives information about their perceptions and preferences of fabrics for specific end uses.