Suit Fabrics, Continued

In our last post, we talked about some of the fabric types you might run into when shopping for a suit. In this post, we continue with more fabric types.

Poplin Poplin is a lightweight plain-weave fabric, usually made from cotton. It is sometimes called tabinet. Because cotton dyes easily, suits made from poplin are available in a much broader variety of colors, including bright colors.

seersucker photo by Peteski1

Seersucker Seersucker is woven in such a way that it puckers or crinkles along the white stripes which alternate with stripes or checks of other colors, typically blue, green or yellow. Because it is a thin cloth and its pucker makes it stand away from the skin, this is the quintessential fabric for summer suits.

60's sharkskin suit photo by funkomavintage

contemporary sharkskin suit with signature "sheen"

Sharkskin Originally a type of worsted wool, which is woven with two shades to furnish a two-toned appearance, modern sharkskin is often made with synthetic fibers which allow it to present a metallic sheen.

tweed photo by Allison Marchant

Tweed The word "tweed" comes from the Scots word for twill, as most tweed is woven in a twill pattern, such as herringbone and houndstooth. It has a nubbly feel and a characteristic heathered effect with different colored woolen strands twisted into the ply. Traditionally, tweeds were used for country clothes and shooting jackets, and they retain their air of "outdoorsiness".

twill in a herringbone pattern

Twill Twill is a weave of any fabric that features raised, diagonal ribs. Herringbone, houndstooth, denim, gabardine and serge are popular types of twill weaves.

Worsted Wool Worsted cloth is made from wool which has been carded, combed, and tightly spun into smooth, even fibers. Worsted wool is good for suit construction because it has a hard flat finish, resists wrinkles, and holds a nice crease.

Coming Up Next: "Super" Wools

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Suit Fabrics, Continued

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