When speaking in terms of clothing, fabrics are what one considers a prime source of comfort, durability, and style. The fabric that is employed can help make better decisions with outfits. Let’s get into the details of clothing fabric, what clothing fabric is, what is fabric GSM, what are the most common cloth types and the nitty gritty that you need to know. So, it’s better not to skip!
1) What is Clothing Fabric?
“Clothing Fabric is anything and everything used in the garment-wearing industry to make clothes. It is obtained by weaving, knitting, or some bonding of some fibers.”
These fibers can be from the natural side such as cotton fabrics and silk fabrics and can also be coming from the synthetic side such as polyester and nylon fabric. Fabric choice affects the texture, weight, and general feel of the clothing. Fabrics are a key part of the composition and many features of a dress. So, it’s important to choose the fabric well to ensure comfort and quality.
2) What is Fabric GSM?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and measures the weight, volume, thickness, and sturdiness of fabric. Fabrics with high GSM are heavier and thicker, while those with low GSM are lighter and more porous. For example, t-shirts typically have a GSM ranging from 80 to 120, while more durable fabrics like denim can have a GSM over 400.
3) What Are The Different Types Of Fabrics?
There is a huge type of clothes available in the market, and they are divided into two categories;
- Ordinary Fabrics
- Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Figure no 2 Types of Clothing Fabric
Ordinary Fabric
i) Jersey
Derived from its origins in the Islands, the jersey is a smooth fabric made from wool or cotton. It is worth noting that jersey is primarily characterized by its lightweight viscous nature. It is easily knitted into t-shirts, dresses, or activewear. Moreover, as it is thin, pliable, and soft, it becomes easy to wear.
Allowing ease of movement while providing comfort, jersey fabric is perfect for casual wear. Furthermore, due to its inherent design, jersey fabric is great for tackling perspiration.
Figure no 3 Jersey
ii) Sherpa
Sherpa fabric looks and feels like thick wool fleece and offers great warmth, softness, and comfort, making it perfect for jacket linings and other uses. In addition to the warmth and softness of Sherpa fabric used to make blankets, another popular product is the blanket hoodie, which combines the comfort of a blanket with the convenience of a hoodie, making it perfect for wearing indoors or outdoors on cold days.
Figure no 4 Sherpa
iii) Pima Cloth
Pima cotton cloth is known for its fabric quality such as being soft, durable, and strong among a few. It is commonly used for making shirts, bedding, and undergarments. Pima is an anti-pill cotton which is great with comfort over prolonged periods due to its smooth touch and feel.
iv) Cotton Fleece
Cotton is one of the knit fabric types that is made warmer and softer by brushing its interior. Hoodies, sweatshirts, and joggers can all be made with cotton fleece and, due to the lightweight, the fabric acts as great insulation. It’s also relatively thin, which allows it to act as a good layering for colder seasons.
v) Satin
Satin can be described as a smooth-faced fabric that appears glossy on one side and is relatively dull on the other. Fashion, lingerie, and evening gowns tend to use it most. It is also used as luxurious linings and is made of silk or synthetic fibers. In addition to clothing, pillowcases and bed sheets are made from satin to enhance the gentle aspect of the sleeping experience.
Figure no 5 Satin
vi) Velvet
Another type of fabric that can also be classified as luxury is Velvet, this fabric is also dense yet soft and shiny. Formal attire is commonly made with velvet fabric as well as upholstery and other accessories to give a touch of elegance.
vii) Twill
Twill is a type of woven textile characterized by its diagonal ribbing pattern. It is hard, making it perfect for trousers, work clothes, and outerwear as it can withstand rough treatment. The fabric twill being quite useful also is resistant to stains and wrinkling.
viii) Viscose/Rayon
Viscose is a type of fabric that is also referred to as rayon. It is classified as a semi-synthetic textile since wood pulp is used to make it. Plus, it is very light, and airy, and has a wonderful fall. So, it is widely used in dresses and blouses. This particular fabric is usually combined with other fabrics to have more smoothness and a high approximation.
ix) Silk
Silk is a type of fabric that is the most sought-after due to its nice luster and smooth texture. It is often used for making luxury garments, scarves, and ties. This fabric may be light but it is strong at the same time. From elegant wedding dresses to classy suits, silk manages to be sophisticated yet soft at the same time.
x) Tweed
Tweed is a woolen coarse fabric primarily used as protective clothing due to its warmth and strength. This fabric is indicative of jackets and coats along with hats in certain areas. Tweed is strictly associated with countryside style but it also has started to make its way into modern outfits.
Figure no 6 Tweed
xi) Denim
Denim has gained its popularity largely due to its portrayal in the masses and its use in an array of clothing articles. It is not only durable but also comes in various weights and washes. This property allows it to serve as a staple piece in most wardrobes. Over the years, this fabric has maintained its quality. It is ever-evolving irrespective of the style changes.
xii) Gingham
The Gingham is primarily used heavily for shirts, dresses, and household usage. The Gingham pattern has risen in use during the spring and summer due to its light and cheerful appearance.
xiii) Pique
Pique fabric has a three-dimensional pattern and is primarily made of cotton. Its breathability and slight elasticity along with its tough constitution render its use in polo shirts. The structured and sophisticated pique fabric look assists in the creation of various well-dressed, relaxed styles.
Figure no 7 Pique
- Adding onto these there seem to be some eco-friendly fabric types material available like;
- Organic cotton
- Linen
- Better cotton
- Hemp
- Cork
- Bamboo Linen
- Recycled Polyester
- Tencel Lyocell
- Econyl
- Wool
- Pinatex
- SCOBY Leather
4) Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the fabric for your clothing the purpose of the clothing, the touch, and the fabric’s strength are something that needs to be taken into account. Every material has its purpose and application because of the advantages it provides. If you are dressing for comfort or fashion, or if you require practicality, understanding the pros and cons of different fabrics allows you to strategize your purchase better.
If you are in search of a dependable partner to develop custom clothing, Liling Clothing is likely well-versed in making logo designs, production, and branding tailored to your requirements. Our clothing products have BSCI and ISO 90001 certificates to ensure the highest quality standards. We manufacture everything like puffer jackets, down jackets, T-shirts, down pants, and so on.