A Comprehensive Analysis of Clothing Fabrics: Understand the Material Code and Bid farewell to the embarrassment of being a "clothing illiterate"!
A Comprehensive Analysis of Clothing Fabrics: Understand the Material Code and Bid farewell to the embarrassment of being a "clothing illiterate"!
Have you ever regretted wearing new clothes but feeling hot and itchy? Do you feel like crying but have no tears to shed when looking at a wool sweater that has shrunk after washing? The comfort, lifespan and even the elegance of clothes are all controlled by the "fabric" behind the scenes! Today, we'll reveal the personality differences of common fabrics to you, and from now on, your taste in choosing clothes will be sharp!
🌿 1. Natural Fibre School: The gift of nature
1. Cotton:
Key words: Breathable, moisture-absorbent, soft and skin-friendly, prone to wrinkling, may shrink
Daily scenarios: T-shirts, shirts, sweatshirts, bedding
* Warm reminder: Summer Savior! It has a perfect sweat absorption capacity, but it wrinkles easily and requires care. Be cautious of the risk of shrinkage when washing with water.
2. Linen:
Key words: Ultimate breathability, dryness, natural texture, wrinkle-prone, with a rough feel
Daily scenarios: summer shirts, wide-leg pants, vacation long dresses
* Warm reminder: "Walking air conditioner", the more you wash it, the softer it becomes. It's the first choice for those who pursue a laid-back and casual style, but people with obsessive-compulsive disorder should be cautious (wrinkles are its soul).
3. Silk:
Key words: Luxurious luster, smooth and drape, skin-friendly and breathable, delicate and difficult to maintain, sensitive to sun exposure and scratches
Daily scenarios: high-end shirts, pajamas, silk scarves, evening gowns
* Warm reminder: Ladylike touch, warm and skin-friendly, but hand wash or professional dry cleaning is recommended. Store away from pressure and moisture.
4. Wool:
Key words: Warmth retention, moisture absorption, good elasticity, may shrink (especially when washed in a hot water machine), and some sensitive skin may feel pricking
Daily scenarios: sweaters, overcoats, suits, scarves
* Warm reminder: The top dog in the warmth world! High-quality wool (such as Merino) is more delicate and soft. When washing, be sure to check the washing label. High-temperature washing is the main culprit for shrinkage!
🧪 2. Synthetic fiber School: The Magic of technology
1. Polyester/Polyester fiber
Key words: Sturdy and wear-resistant, anti-wrinkle, quick-drying, affordable price, poor breathability, prone to static electricity
Daily scenarios: sportswear, coats, curtains, fillings
* Warm reminder: Sportswear is a great partner. It's wear-resistant, durable and easy to maintain, but the comfort level when worn next to the skin is slightly inferior. Be cautious of the trouble of static electricity.
2. Nylon/Polyamide
Key words: High elasticity, super wear resistance, lightweight, prone to static electricity, not resistant to sunlight
Daily scenarios: down jacket fabric, sports jackets, yoga pants, socks, backpacks
* Warm reminder: The king of Wear resistance! It is often blended with spandex to enhance elasticity (such as in yoga pants), but it is prone to aging when exposed to the sun for a long time.
3. Acrylic (Acrylic) :
Key words: "Artificial wool", fluffy and soft, warm, sun-resistant, prone to pilling, poor breathability and moisture absorption
Daily scenarios: sweaters (affordable alternatives), blankets, dolls
* Friendly reminder: Wool is an alternative. It has bright colors and is not prone to moth damage, but it is prone to pilling and sweating. Those who care about the texture should choose it with caution.
4. Spandex/Lycra:
Key words: Ultra-high elasticity, good resilience, usually a small amount of blending (3%-10%)
Daily scenarios: skinny jeans, sportswear, underwear, leggings
* Warm reminder: Flexible support! Make the clothes more close-fitting and comfortable. ** Rarely used alone **, often mixed into other fibers.
📊 3. Quick reference table of fabric properties
| Characteristics | Cotton | Linen | Silk | Wool | Polyester | Nylon | Acrylic | Spandex |
| : -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - | : - - - |
* * | | * * breathable moisture absorption ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ |
* * | | * * warmth ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | - |
* * | | * * durable wear-resistant ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| | * * * * wrinkle resistance ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Management Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Difficult | Medium | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| | * * * * price populist degrees 💰 💰 | 💰 💰 💰 | 💰 💰 💰 💰 | 💰 💰 💰 | 💰 | 💰 💰 | 💰 | 💰 |
🧺 4. Blended fabric: The wisdom of strong union
A single fabric is hard to be perfect, and thus blended fabrics were born:
Cotton + polyester: Enhances the anti-wrinkle and wear resistance of cotton and reduces costs (commonly found in shirts and bedding).
Wool + acrylic: Enhances the durability and anti-pilling property of wool, makes it easier to care for, and reduces costs.
Cotton + spandex: Endows cotton clothes with elasticity (such as T-shirts, skinny jeans).
Polyester + spandex: Highly elastic, wear-resistant and quick-drying (main choice for sportswear and leggings).
When making a purchase, pay attention to the ingredient labels and understand the characteristics of the primary and secondary materials!
5. Smart Shopping Guide: Say goodbye to blind buying
1. Select the fabric based on the requirements:
Summer commuting? Cotton and linen: Breathability is king.
Sweating profusely during exercise? Polyester, nylon and spandex blend ** quick-drying and elastic.
"Pursuing high-end texture?" Silk and fine-spun wool are worth investing in.
Limited budget? Cotton blends and acrylic fibers are practical choices.
2. Be sure to check the washing label! The care for different fabrics varies greatly, especially for wool and silk. Don't let wrong washing ruin good clothes.
3. Hand feel: Skin-friendliness, thickness, drape, and elasticity - you can tell at a glance when you touch them.
Clothes are the abode of the skin, while fabrics are the foundation of architecture. Only by understanding the language of fabrics can every piece of clothing become a confidant of the body. Next time you go shopping, why not take a second look at the labels, feel the breathing of the fabric, and make wearing truly a pleasure?Which kind of fabric do you prefer best? Or have you ever had any experiences of being "cheated" by fabrics? Let's chat in the comment section!
Did you know? Among the textile fibers produced globally each year, polyester accounts for over 53%, making it undoubtedly the "King of Fibers". -- International Synthetic Fiber Association
