Fabric is the heart and soul of clothing and what you’re wearing, or planning to wear needs some thorough investigation in accordance with what types of fabrics you’ll be looking into. Some pieces of clothing are best done with a certain kind of fabric, in terms of how it falls, flows, and drapes. In short, the fabric can make or break a design and it requires some serious knowledge to understand what goes for what design.
If you’re also planning to design your clothes and have no idea about the different types of fabrics for clothes then you’ve landed at the right place. But before going through different fabrics individually we will first undergo a set of 5 distinctions that cover different aspects of fabric and are super helpful in the selection process.
Comfort: This helps understanding how the fabric feels on your body when you’re wearing it. It comprises both the thickness and the breathability factor of the fabric.
Breathability: This distinction helps in understanding the fabrics’ ability to allow moisture vapor and air to transfuse through the material.
Function: It helps in understanding how the fabric interacts with one’s skin. In simpler terms, every fabric is best suited for a specific season, hence, when you’re selecting fabric for summer make sure to go for something that maintains cooling and for winter go for something that offers warmth.
Wrinkle-Resistant: Even though everything appears 100 times chicer when it’s pressed and wrinkle-free, but certain fabrics are naturally wrinkle-free and some will get wrinkles within seconds.
Machine Wash: This is probably the most important thing that one should keep in mind while selecting fabrics, is it machine wash or hand wash or dry clean only?
Now, let’s get right into different types of fabrics and account them based on these 5 parameters.
1. Cotton – Types of Fabrics
One of the most commonly used fabrics which are naturally produced and used. It is spun into a thread or yarn and is particularly used to make a soft textile.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: No
Machine Wash: Yes
2. Linen
Another one of the natural types of fabrics, linen is made from the fibers of flax plants and is very strong and absorbent.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 5/5
Function: Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: No
Machine Wash: Yes
3. Silk
This is a natural protein fiber, made from the cocoon of certain insects and some forms of it are woven into fabrics.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 1/5
Function: Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: No
Machine Wash: No
4. Denim – Types Of Fabrics
This is a stronger variant of cotton fabric made by using twill weave and is one of the more strong and durable fabrics in the market.
Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Cooling & Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
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5. Wool
Another one of the natural types of fabrics, wool is obtained from animals like sheep, lambs, and others.
Comfort: 1/5
Breathability: 5/5
Function: Warming & Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
6. Leather
Genuine leather is extracted from animal skins and it undergoes a specific process to get the required type. However, more and more people are now straying away from genuine leather and opting for faux ones.
Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
7. Flannel
It is a soft woven fabric that was originally made from wool, however, now it is often made from cotton, wool, or synthetic yarn.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 0/5
Function: Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
8. Jersey
This is a type of knit fabric that was originally made from wool, but now it is commonly made with cotton, wool, and synthetic fibers.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Warming & Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
9. Satin – Types Of Fabrics
This is not a fabric perse but rather a weave, hence, the satin fabric is made out of a satin weave using elements like polyester, silk, and nylon.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
10. Chiffon
Another one of the different types of fabric which are made out of natural & synthetic fabric. It is lightweight and has a bit of a shine to it.
Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 3/5
Function: Cooling
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: No
11. Velvet – Different Types of Fabrics
It is a super smooth and soft fabric that is usually used for more festive and luxury clothing.
Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 1/5
Function: Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: No
Machine Wash: No
12. Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is derived from petroleum and is one of the world’s most popular textile fabrics due to its cheap pricing.
Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 1/5
Function: Warming
Wrinkle-Resistant: Yes
Machine Wash: Yes
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These were some of the different types of fabrics for clothes that you can choose from, for your next design project. You have some popular and not-so-popular fabric choices here, so make the right decision adhering to your requirements.