Fabric. It’s everywhere. The clothes we wear, the rugs under our feet, the curtains on the wall. Something so ubiquitous with our day-to-day, but often little thought about.
Why does nylon pill so easily?
What makes spandex so stretchable?
How can wool keep you so warm?
In this latest blog post, we’ll discuss the most common fabric materials you will find used by the brands featured on our website. What they are, their benefits, and their weaknesses.
But Where Does it Come From? Natural vs. Manmade Fabrics
To know the various fabric materials, you must first know that all materials stem from two types of fibers: natural and manmade (also known as synthetic).
Natural fibers come from two general categories: plants and animals. Plant-based fibers include cotton, linen, and jute, while animal-based fibers include silk or wool. Natural fibers are eco-friendly, absorbent, and durable.
Manmade fibers are created out of chemical compounds formed through chemical processes. Synthetic fabric materials were developed as cheaper options, many during or shortly after World War II when natural materials were in short supply. Synthetic materials lend themselves to being easier to mass-produce compared to their natural counterparts. Synthetic materials are cheaper, stain-resistant, and often waterproof or water-resistant.
Let’s first focus on some of the natural fabric materials.
From the Earth to Your Dresser: All About Natural Fabric Materials
Cotton is derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants. Its history is lengthy, dating back to prehistoric times. It is one of the most common, widely used fabrics today because it is relatively inexpensive, versatile, and durable. Cotton is soft, breathable, and lightweight, offering high moisture-wicking abilities. However, cotton will shrink when washed unless it is pretreated and is prone to wrinkling, piling, rips, and tears.
Wool is another natural fiber derived from the hairs of various animals, most notably sheep. It is known for its durability and thermally insulating properties, favored for use in cold-weather gear. It has high moisture-wicking abilities and is highly flame resistant. It won’t spread flame or char and will self-extinguish. It is highly useful in applications in which a reduction of flammability is desired. Despite these great attributes, wool is prone to pilling and bubbling and is only moderately breathable.
Certified by the Los Angeles Police Department and other prestigious agencies, the performance-permeated Flying Cross 100 Percent Wool Pants are sure to become a uniform favorite. Wool is a natural fiber, making its core structure superior to synthetic fibers. For starters, wool returns to its shape after being stretched up to 30 percent, and it moderates heat (warm in winter; cool in summer). The very nature of wool is also resistant to bacteria and flames (extremely tough to ignite). With wool, you additionally have the advantage of an easy-to-clean fabric that’s known for its wrinkle-free, anti-static qualities — making it perfect for extended shifts at the station or outdoor patrol.
The final natural fiber discussed in this blog is leather. One of the most desirable textile products in the world, it is made from the tanned hide of animals. It is durable, water resistant, features insulative properties, and is luxuriously soft. However, leather does not offer much when it comes to breathability, stretchability, or moisture-wicking abilities.
From the Lab to Your Closet: All About Manmade (Synthetic) Fabric Materials
When we discuss manmade (synthetic) materials, polyester usually gets a bad wrap as it has been associated with disco shirts of the 1970s. However, polyester is very versatile. It is inexpensive, wrinkle and stain-resistant, offers high moisture-wicking abilities, and is very breathable. While it will melt in extreme heat, it offers high resistance to environmental conditions, which makes it ideal for long-term use in outdoor applications.
Flying Cross’s Men’s Command Polyester Short Sleeve Shirt capitalizes on many of the benefits of being made from 100 percent polyester. For example, the moisture transport is so superior, that this garment dries seven times faster than nano-treated fabrics; the permanent stain release is four times better than nano-treated fabrics; and the drying rate is 33 percent faster than nano-treated fabrics.
Nano-treated fabrics are textiles engineered with small particles that give ordinary materials advantageous properties, such as extreme water resistance, odor and moisture elimination, increased elasticity and strength, and bacterial resistance. Built-in creases, color retention, and collar stays consistently supply a sharp and fresh appearance. Utility operator features, such as badge placement, make this shirt ideal for public safety professionals. A spacious cut even allows you to conceal your body armor, while a zippered front accelerates on/off.
Nylon was originally developed by DuPont Corporation in the early 1920s, with its creation officially announced at the 1939 World’s Fair. It is highly stretchable and elastic but is prone to pilling and bubbling. Most nylon garments today consist of a blend of various fabrics.
Tru-Spec 24-7 Series Agility Pants are specifically designed for everyday carry with excellent on-the-job performance. These low-profile tactical pants are made from a nylon-blend oxford stretch fabric that is treated with water-resistant DWR for protection against soil and moisture. The hidden stretch waist with a gusseted crotch enhances mobility and features a tailored straight fit. All these features combined make these TRU-SPEC pants unmatched in style, flexibility, and durability.
Spandex is often used in form-fitting consumer apparel due to its ability to stretch five to eight times its normal size. It is highly breathable, stretchable, and heat-resistant. It also features great moisture-wicking abilities. In most cases, pure spandex isn’t used in garments. Instead, small quantities of the fabric are woven into other fabrics, such as cotton and wool.
Then there are fabric blends, such as Jersey Knit and Cotton/Polyester blends. Jersey Knit is often comprised of wool, cotton, or other synthetic fibers. It is lightweight, highly breathable, stretchable, absorbent, and offers great moisture-wicking abilities. However, it is not durable or insulative.
The 5.11 Tactical Series® Snag-Free Performance Polo is constructed of SmartWeave® fabric to resist snags and rips while retaining a wrinkle-free appearance. The jersey-knit polyester is moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and antimicrobial to keep you feeling fresh all day. Additional features include gusseted sleeves for freedom of movement, pen pockets at the left sleeve for quick convenience, integrated mic clips to keep you connected, and a no-roll collar with flexible collar stays.
The final fabric material discussed in this blog will be the cotton/polyester blend. The use of polyester in apparel reduces production costs, and when blended with cotton, it improves the shrinkage, durability, and wrinkling profile of cotton.
The Flying Cross® Polyester Cotton Shirts are perfect for those who want the soft, breathable comfort of cotton and the long-lasting, wrinkle-resistant wear of polyester. Permanent sewn-in military creases and collar stays provide a crisp, clean appearance. It also features symmetrically cross-stitched shoulder straps for a neater appearance and a seven-button front closure.
Congratulations! You are Now a Fabric Material Aficionado
After reading this blog, we hope you have come to realize that every fabric fits a specific need, whether that is insulation, breathability, or stretch, to name a few, and can walk away with a better understanding of the benefits and weaknesses of the fabrics we use in our daily lives.
