Method using flock alternative for providing finished textile surfaces

A method for providing an article, comprising:

• A) providing a finished fabric having two finished surfaces, and
• B) applying a non-foamed aqueous composition as a flock substitute directly to the finished fabric on one or both of the two finished surfaces to provide the flock substitute at a dry coverage of at least 0.5 g/m2 and up to and including 15 g/m2 per finished surface, to improve the anti-blocking characteristic of the one or both of the two finished surfaces, and to mask any tacky feel of the finished fabric on the treated one or both of the two finished surfaces,
• wherein the non-foamed aqueous composition has at least 0.5% solids and up to and including 20% solids, and comprises the following components (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv):
• (i) hollow glass particles having an average particle size of at least 5 μm and up to and including 100 μm, that are present in an amount of at least 0.25 weight % and up to and including 20 weight %, based on the total weight of the non-foamed aqueous composition, the hollow glass particles having a crush strength of greater than 50 MPa;
• (ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder that has a glass transition temperature of less than 25° C.;
• (iii) a crosslinking agent if it is needed to crosslink the (ii) water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder;
• and
• (iv) porous particles that are present in an amount of less than 0.1 weight %, if at all, based on the total weight of the non-foamed aqueous composition,
• wherein the weight ratio of the (i) hollow glass particles to the (ii) water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder is from 1:5 to and including 10:1.