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Common Fabrics For Men’s Suits

In this article you will find a quick overview of the most common fabrics used in formal men’s clothing. This information will help you find the right suit next time you go shopping. Besides going over the main pros and cons of each fabric, I will give you a brief overview of the history, as well as care instructions.

Cotton

Cotton is a natural fiber harvested from plants before spinning the material into yarn. Cotton is a plant requiring a rich, moisture retaining soil and 200 frost free days. After 200 days the seed pod bursts open to reveal a tangled mass of fluffy raw cotton fibers. After the cotton is harvested, it is cleaned from impurities, and finally woven into different yarns before being dyed into a wide range of colors.

For men’s 2-piece suits cotton is less common since the fabric has less shine and doesn’t drape as nicely as other natural fibers. Nevertheless cotton is commonly used in sport coats and khaki slacks.

Corduroy

Corduroy comes from the French word “corde du roi” meaning “cloth of the king”. It became popular in the 1700’s when King Louis XVI (1754 – 1793), King of France (1774 – 1792) chose this material for his servants on his grand hunting outings. The wider the gap between the ribs, also known as Wales, the more casual the fabric. Initially corduroy fabric was made from finest silk, but during the 19th century cotton was used.

The somewhat stiffer feel of corduroy makes it less suitable for making a men’s suit. It is most commonly used in pants as well as sport coats.

Flannel

The word “flannel” comes from the Welish word “gwalnen” meaning woolen cloth. Flannel is a twill type of fabric that has been brushed to soften the outer layer. In men’s clothing flannel trousers are popular among older men. Although used, flannel is slightly less common in men’s jackets.

Linen

One of the oldest woven fabrics know to men is linen. The intricate and time consuming manufacturing process of linen made it a very exclusive fabric. In fact, linen fabric is mentioned in the Bible as the material of the coverings used in the Tabernacle. Linen is made from the flax plant. The flax is picked and the linen fibers are extracted from the plant’s stalk. Quality linen is still a quite expensive fabric today. To measure the quality of linen look at the amount of stubs that are showing. The higher the quality the smoother the fabric, and the less stubs are visible.

Linen is most common for thinner, summer-type suits. The downside of linen is that high quality fabrics are quite expensive, and linen is also very easily to get wrinkles. Once wrinkled, ironing linen is quite difficult. Nevertheless, if you have room in your wardrobe as well as the budget, then a fine tan-beige colored linen suit will make a stunning fashion statement in on a warm summer day.

Polyester

Polyester is a man made material. It is often mixed in with other, natural fabrics to reduce cost. Polyester is very stain resistant, doesn’t shrink or stretch after cleaning, and is quickly to dry. It is most common in athletic gear since it dries fast and doesn’t take on odors as easily as other, natural fibers.

For suits polyester is quite common in less expensive models. The downside of polyester is that the fabric doesn’t breathe, and doesn’t insulate as well. Unless you are dressing on a budget, polyester should be avoided in any suit.

Super 100’s, 120’s, 140’s, etc

This type of fabric is most common in men’s suits. It refers to the length in centimeters a piece of wool can be stretched before breaking. The higher quality the wool the longer, and thinner it can be stretched. The result: a much finer wool yarn that gives the suit a nice draping effect, great shine, and soft feel.

Even though higher numbers are higher quality, there is a downside to wearing a suit made from a super 180’s wool. Typically the higher the number the easier the suit will wrinkle. With this in mind, choose a super 100’s or super 120’s wool suit for daily business attire, and save the super 180’s or higher for special occasions and black tie events.

For more information on men’s fashion Pohl invites you to visit his men’s fashion blog. Besides regularly writing articles on men’s fashion, Pohl is the owner of Cheap-Neckties.com - An online retailer offering a wide range of cheap neckties, bow ties, and fashion tips for men.

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