You might have got a question, “How to choose the right fabric for clothing” in mind while working for your own clothing business.
Well, it’s a pretty common question to have unless you know how to choose the right fabric for clothing. Thus, you won’t be able to select the perfect fabric for a particular type of dress. So, to ease your situation, we are going to share with you how to choose the right fabric for clothing. To do it, you must measure a few important factors regarding the fabrics as follows –
Durability
A fabric‘s durability refers to how well it can maintain its structure, shape, and appearance after use and washing. Generally, synthetic fabrics are more durable than natural fabrics. A fabric’s tensile strength and abrasion resistance are two other factors that determine its durability.
Most clothing fabrics aren’t highly durable. This is due to the fact that lightweight, people desire mostly drape-able fabrics, but fabrics of this type lack strong tensile or abrasion resistance.
However, some materials, such as polyester, are machine washable and will regain their shape after being put through the washer and dryer. On the other hand, you should dry clean silk or wool dresses, whereas you can wash cotton dresses in cold water.
Color Fastness
The term “colorfastness” refers to a fabric’s capacity to keep its color after washing without the dye fading. The majority of modern fabrics are very colorfast, although some natural materials may need special treatment. Before washing a new item of clothing that you bought at a store, make sure to read the care label inside!
A fabric’s ability to resist fading can also be referred to as its colorfastness. Since synthetic fabrics like polyester go through a unique synthetic dyeing process that chemically attaches dye particles deep into the polyester fibers, synthetic fabrics in general have great colorfastness.
Shrinkage
Depending on the fabric type, certain types of fabrics shrink more easily when exposed to heat, friction, or moisture. Especially in the washing machine, cotton and wool shrink quite a bit! In general, synthetic materials do not shrink easily.
Despite this, most cotton clothing is preshrunk during production. As a result, you may safely wash your jeans and t-shirts without being concerned that they will shrink in the dryer. Never dry wool, silk, or other delicate fabrics in the dryer. To prevent shrinking, you need to dry clean these fabrics.
Color and Style
Naturally, the fabric’s color and style will have a significant impact on your decision as well. The material you choose should fit the event and appear appropriate. A thicker, silkier, or shiner cloth would be appropriate for a formal occasion. For everyday wear, you probably want to choose a fabric that breathes well and is easy to clean. Certain types of dresses are made from traditional materials. For example, maxi dresses are always made from knit fabric.
Fabric Weight
The fabric’s weight indicates both its thickness and weight. Different types of materials utilize various weight systems, which makes fabric weights tricky. As an illustration, you can measure denim in ounces per square yard. You can measure the weight and density of silk by using a sophisticated system known as a momme. Moreover, most of the world, except for the United States, uses the metric system, so fabric may also be measured in GSM or grams per square meter.
But regardless of the weight method your material uses, a higher weight indicates that the cloth will have a thicker or denser weave and use larger yarns. When compared to lighter clothes, it will feel heavy in your hands.
By selecting the proper fabric weight, you can guarantee that your dress will either have structure or drape smoothly. Fabrics with a lightweight drape more, while fabrics with a medium or heavy weight provide more structure and dimension.
Thread Count
The number of threads in a square inch of cloth is indicated by the thread count. Due to the fact that it also reflects the fineness of the yarns used in the fabric, this can be a very useful piece of information.
For instance, a thread count of 200 indicates that, when woven together, 200 threads occupy an area of one square inch. However, a thread count of 400 indicates that the weaver used finer threads that will feel softer because twice as many threads may fit into the same area.
When choosing sheets and other bedding, thread count is frequently given more consideration than choosing a dress material. However, the thread count will also give you a better idea of how soft a dress will be.
Cleanability
Finally, when choosing fabric for your dress, you should think about how easily you can clean it. Check the care label inside a ready-made dress for information on how to care for it.
This will inform you if you can wash it or if it requires dry cleaning or other special care.
When purchasing fabric online, you can typically find this information stamped on the end of the cardboard within the bolt or in the product description.
What is the Most Common Dressmaking Fabric?
The two most popular materials for dressmaking are cotton and polyester. Many casual dresses on the market are made of cotton materials, including poplin, cotton lawn, and jersey weave. The fact that cotton is breathable and light makes it ideal for casual dresses. This is one of the reasons they are so popular.
Polyester is a versatile material that can be used to create almost any type of fabric, from jersey knit to more formal satin and velvet. Compared to many other forms of fabric, polyester is much cheaper to create. As a result, it is quite well-liked in ready-to-wear garments.
What is the Best Cotton Fabric for a Dress?
The ideal cotton material for a dress will depend on the style you desire, such as an A-line or maxi dress.
The best fabrics for dresses are typically those that are lightweight, like lawn, voile, or some knits. They are easier to drape or hang than stiffer, thicker cotton, which holds its shape better but is less flexible.
If you want a dress with a clear shape, for instance, a skirt that hangs one way, you might choose one with a clear shape. For this kind of dress, you may want to use poplin, denim, or corduroy.
What are the Best Fabrics for What Type of Dresses
If you know what kind of dress you want, you may be able to determine which fabrics would work best. Make sure you read the fabric recommendations on the back of the pattern if you plan to buy fabric by the yard. By doing this, you will be able to determine the best type of fabric and weight to use. If you want to know how to choose the right fabric for clothing, you will have to know which fabric is best for which particular type of dress.
Summer Dress
The breathability of the fabric is the most essential aspect to think about while purchasing or making a summer dress. You don’t want to feel unbearably humid and wrapped in your own sweat while wearing that wonderful clothing!
Any cotton-based fabric will have high breathability. For example, light knits, lawns, and gingham all have a cool, cozy feel. Additionally, rayon is breathable and feels silky and light, so we can say that you can wear nicer clothing without getting too hot as well.
Flowy Dress
A lightweight or even sheer fabric is the essential quality to seek in a flowing dress. Lighter materials have a tendency to drape easily, creating a wavy, flowing shape.
Chiffon, voile, grass, and silk are a few materials that drape nicely. However, velvet is a heavier fabric that also drapes wonderfully.
Maxi Dress
Knit fabric is best for maxi dresses. The best fabric for a maxi dress is typically a light jersey weave because it feels comfortable and doesn’t drape heavily off the body. Other popular options include the silkier-feeling but less breathable fabric like lycra knit fabric. Because knit has such a high degree of elasticity, maxi dresses almost always use knit materials. With the unique shape of a maxi dress, this works beautifully!
A-Line Dress
A fabric with greater weight and structure works best for an A-line dress. Though cotton poplin and gingham instead of more drapey cotton lawn or voile work well for this, you should still consider using lightweight or midweight fabrics. Can use many different types of polyester for it.
Draping Dress
Many types of fabric, especially lightweight ones, drape wonderfully. Knits that are light or medium in weight will hang well, too. Even under their own weight, some thicker materials like satin and velvet can drape.
What is the Best Fabric to Use When Making a Dress?
When making a dress, the best fabric is one that has a color or print that you like. You can choose between draping or structuring, depending on the style you want. Reading the back of the sewing pattern to find out what kind of fabric to look for is one of the best ways to ensure that you choose the proper fabric for your work.
Cotton, rayon, and polyester are the three most popular materials for dresses. Depending on the weave and thread color, you can use cotton and polyester to create a wide variety of fabrics. Most people make summer dresses with rayon, which produces a silky, light fabric.
So by now, hopefully, you have got a proper idea of how to choose the right fabric for clothing. You can get any type of customized dress with any type of fabric at the Beautiful Connection Group. This is one of the best clothing manufacturing companies in the USA. You can check their website for any further information. You will get the best deals from them wholesale.