hey stupid...
(pun intended) (offense not intended)
you can do all the rips...ect...
then...do a create cloth object....
it's found in the same menu as the PANEL GARMENT SEAM ...this make polygon meshes act like cloth...I can't remember...if it acts exactly like the way you are doing or not...but it does simulate...
goodluck...hope I helped...
-peace-
aken009