In our previous blog post, we discussed some of the elements we were looking for in the fabrics for our plus-size dresses. Durability is essential to us because so much of the clothing out there right now is made of thin, low-quality, cheap materials. High-quality fabrics last longer and look and wear better.
We also wrote about the distinction between woven and knits, with knits having more stretch and give than wovens.
Today’s blog post will discuss the different fabrics we evaluate for our dress collection and their characteristics. Most of these fabrics are commonly used in plus-size clothing, so you can also use this as a guide while shopping online for clothes.
Wool: a natural fiber made from animal hairs, typically a sheep or lamb.
We all know that wool insulates and retains heat well. But it also has wicking abilities, pulling moisture and sweat away from the skin, so lightweight wool can keep you cool in the summer.
Wool has good elastic recovery, meaning the garment stretches comfortably while you wear it but then returns to its original shape.
Cotton: the most commonly used natural fiber, cotton grows around the seeds of the cotton plant.
It is comfortable, soft, breathable, and feels great against the skin.
It can typically be machine washed and dried, but check your care instructions - cotton can frequently shrink, so if it has not been preshrunk, line- or flat-dry or tumble-dry with little or no heat.
Linen: a natural fiber made from the stem of the flax plant.
Because linen does not insulate body heat, it is very cool and comfortable to wear in warm weather. But it doesn’t have to be worn only in the summer – if blended with fibers such as cashmere or wool, you can wear it in colder months.
Linen has excellent durability and responds well to movement. It doesn’t stretch and wrinkles easily, though those rumples can give it a very elegant look.
Jersey: jersey fabric is the most common knit fabric and the most popular in apparel. Jersey is highly versatile and can be used to make T-shirts, dresses, skirts -- all types of garments.
Jersey can be made from various fabrics, including cotton, polyester, silk, and viscose, and is blended with a small quality of elastane/spandex (2-10%). Spandex gives it stretch and strength and improves its recovery after stretching.
Jersey is soft, comfortable, and accommodates the body’s curves and movements.
Silk: a natural fiber that is spun by silkworms. Thousands of silkworms together produce only a small piece of fabric, which is why silk is so costly.
It looks luxurious and dressy and feels soft, lightweight, and incredible against the skin. Silk is extraordinarily strong (stronger than wool or cotton), so it holds its shape well yet has a beautiful drape.
Because it is absorbent, silk is warm to wear in the winter and cool in the summer.
Viscose – also known as rayon, is a man-made fiber from wood pulp. Don’t brush aside viscose because it’s man-made. With advances in fabric technology, manufacturers are now producing viscose in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.
It is known as an alternative to silk because, like silk, it looks and feels luxurious, lightweight, and has a superb drape.
This material also dyes well, producing beautiful and rich colors.
Viscose also absorbs water and sweat and is breathable, making it very comfortable to wear.
Modal - a semi-synthetic fabric made from beech tree pulp.
Modal is a form of viscose rayon, and the differences are subtle. They use a similar process with similar chemicals used at each production stage. However, modal fibers are treated slightly differently after spinning to make the filaments stronger, resulting in a final product that is lighter and softer. Other than that, viscose and modal are similar products.
Ponte – made with a double knit- is heavier and sturdier than jersey knit and almost rigid like a woven. Ponte is typically a rayon/nylon/spandex blend. A lot of plus-size clothing is made from ponte.
It is soft to the touch, wrinkle-resistant, and typically blended with a small amount of spandex for comfort.
Ponte provides structure and compression and retains its shape well. It is a figure-flattering fabric that gives a smooth silhouette.
In future blog posts, we will share with you the fabrics we chose for our dresses and their features and benefits. In the meantime, we hope this guide is informative to you. It’s good to know fabric content before you make a purchase online. Knowledge of fabrics will give you an idea of how the garment will fit, help you pick the best size, and give you an idea of what your item will look like so you can cut down on those returns.