Process of making woven articles comprising water-dispersible multicomponent fibers

A process for producing a woven fabric comprising:

• (A) producing at least one multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section by a process which comprises spinning at least one water dispersible sulfopolyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 57° C. and at least one water-nondispersible polymer immiscible with said sulfopolyester into said multicomponent fiber, said sulfopolyester comprising:
• (i) residues of one or more dicarboxylic acids;
• (ii) about 4 to about 40 mole %, based on the total repeating units, of residues of at least one sulfomonomer having 2 functional groups and one or more sulfonate groups attached to an aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring wherein said functional groups are hydroxyl, carboxyl, or a combination thereof;
• (iii) one or more diol residues wherein at least 25 mole %, based on the total diol residues, is a poly(ethylene glycol) having a structure
• H—(OCH2—CH2)n—OH
• wherein n is an integer in the range of 2 to about 500;
• and
• (iv) 0 to about 25 mole %, based on the total repeating units, of residues of a branching monomer having 3 or more functional groups wherein said functional groups are hydroxyl, carboxyl, or a combination thereof;
• wherein said multicomponent fiber comprises a plurality of segments comprising said water-nondispersible polymers immiscible with said sulfopolyester, wherein said segments are substantially isolated from each other by said sulfopolyester intervening between said segments;
• (B) quenching said multicomponent fiber thereby solidifying said multicomponent fiber;
• (C) applying at least one finish to said multicomponent fiber;
• (D) drawing said multicomponent fiber;
• (E) optionally texturizing or crimping said multicomponent fiber;
• and
• (F) knitting or weaving the multicomponent fiber of Step D or Step E to form said woven fabric.