trav - well, i do know that material files can be used to set cloth room settings.  actually, that might be better.  because then could have a material that just set silk as silk and denim as denim, with the correct material and cloth settings  at once.  instead of trying to do the two separately.

edited to add: i don't think cloth settings are quite universal, though, so i'd say it would be best if each piece of clothing had its own specific settings.