Wordans: Picking the Right Fabric for You

Picking the Right Fabric for You

By: Fashionista B

Ever wonder what the qualities of certain fabrics are? Why do some stain and others just wide away? After some research, I found some great basic information about three popular winter fabrics: Cotton, Polyester and Fleece. Once you know the qualities of each fabric, you are prepared for the winter weather, and since Wordans carries a wide selection of clothing, it is good to know how to find exactly what you want.

Let’s start with one of the oldest and most popular fabrics, cotton.

Cotton

Cotton is a highly versatile fabric that we see in both house textiles and clothing. This plant is easily obtained and is easier to grow than other products because due to the lack of chemicals or products required. This fabric tends to be quite soft and only requires basic spinning to be made into a usable fabric. The fibers hold colour and prints extremely well, making it a highly versatile product. Now, there are two types of spinning techniques I want to talk about. The rough-spun and ring-spun.

Rough-Spun

To begin, rough-spun cotton is exactly as it sounds, cotton that has been spun until a fiber exists. There is generally a lot of space between the cotton fibers, which makes the material lighter and less comfortable against the skin, but can be used to create a wide-range of textiles that are soft and warm for a lower cost to customers. Cotton is a good fabric for sensitive skin, it is easy to shape and hangs well, but it tends to lose its shape and durability when wet. Rough-spun generally comes pre-shrunk and blended with polyester to give more durability.

Ring-Spun

Secondly, there is ring-spun cotton. This technique is when the cotton is continually spun until there is little or no gaps between the fibers. You end up with a more durable, heavier strand that is much softer. This process requires more work and tends to be more expensive but durable. Ring-spun is great for sweaters and shirts, as they are extremely soft and durable.

Now onto…

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fiber, that is created through a chemical reaction between acid and alcohol. This fiber is extremely hydrophobic, which means it is highly water and stain resistant. The only downside is polyester does love oils, so be sure to avoid grease because these stains will not easily come out.

Polyester is highly durable, and resistant to mildew, stretching, shrinking, warping, and dries extremely quickly. This product lasts longest when washed and dried at low temperatures. This is great because it means shorter wash and dry cycles with cold water and heat, significantly reducing electricity and water bills. Polyester, because is does not absorb water, can feel stifling when the weather is hot.

Finally, onto fleece…

Fleece

Fleece is actually made from polyester fibers and is the perfect insulator against extreme cold weather. It works best as an outer or mid-layer. Due to its polyester base, this fabric is hydrophobic, and does not absorb water. It dries extremely quickly and is very durable and breathable.

The downside to fleece is the same as polyester, it is extremely stain resistant except with oils. This fabric is also stifling when warm, so it is not ideal as a base layer in the winter. This plush material is magnificent for bedding, sweaters and fall coats.

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