What are different types of fabrics and their use?

Acetate:

This type of fabric is used as clothing, uniforms and lingerie. It has a crisp feel with shiny appearance of silk and excellent drapeability.

Acrylic:

Acrylic is used as an alternate for wool. It is reliable, durable and a soft feel. It is resistant to chemicals.

Broadcloth:

Broadcloth is almost woven and wears very well, but one thing you would not like is, it wrinkles very badly. It is used as shirts, dresses, blouses and summer wear.

Brocade:

It is usually made for eveningwear, church vestments, interior furnishings, and robes. It has a very heavy, rich and elaborate design effect.

Challis: 

They are very soft, lightweight and most importantly, washable. It is used as women's clothing, children's clothing, kimonos, neckties and sportswear.

Chambray:

 This type is astonishingly smooth, strong, almost woven and soft to touch. Can be used as kids clothing, dresses, shirts, blouses, aprons and sportswear.

Chiffon:

 This fabric may be used as eveningwear, blouses and scarves. It is lightweight, transparent and very fine.

Cotton:

Cotton is the most desirable and luxury fabric in most parts of the world. It is very elastic and withstand high temperatures. It has high washability feature and is comfortable in all weather. It can be used as any type of clothing.

Crepe:

Crepe can be used as suits and coats. It has a wrinkled surface with a soft finish. It has rough feel and appearance.

Damask:

Damask is durable and actually made from silk. It is expensive, sheds dirt, launders well and holds high luster, especially in linen.

Denim:

Denim is used as pants, caps, uniforms, bedspreads, slipcovers, sportswear etc. It comes in heavy as well as lighter weights.

Drill:

Drill is a type of cotton fabric, which is used for uniforms, work cloths, and sportswear.

Faille:

Faille has a lustrous finish and is used as dresses, blouses, and some dressy coats.

Flannel:

Flannel is mostly used as blazers, skirts, suits and coats. It has soft to touch, with a napped surface. It has a capability to shrink.

Flax: 

Flax is made of linen with a high absorbent quality and allowing moisture to evaporate quickly. It is washable, but has a poor elasticity.

Gabardine:

Gabardine can be used as both men's and women's tailored suits, coats, raincoats, uniforms etc. It wears extremely well and has a clear finish with durability.

Georgette: 

Georgette is crisp with an outstanding durability. It is sheer and has a dull face.

Houndstooth:

Houndstooth can be used as sports coats and suits. It is usually made of wool.

Moire:

Moire is made of silk, rayon or cotton. It has a watermarked finish. It is mostly used as evening wear, formal dresses and coats.

Nylon:

Nylon is popularly used as women's hosiery, knitted or woven lingerie, socks and sweaters. It is elastic, lustrous and easily washable.

Organdy: 

Organdy is used as summer formals, blouses and aprons.

Organza:

Organza is used as evening dresses. It has a fine look. It is lightweight and crisp.

Oxford:

Oxford is mostly used for men's shirts. It is made of cotton and sometimes even of rayon.

Polyester:

Polyester is smooth, crisp and springy. It is readily washable and is not damaged by sunlight. It is a man-made fabric.

Pongee:

Pongee is made of silk, cotton, or rayon and is mostly used for dresses, blouses and summer suits.

Rayon:

Rayon is a cellulose fiber based fabric and is highly absorbent. It drapes well and is very much resistant to bleaches, moths and chemicals.

Silk:

Silk is a well known and expensive fabric. It is very strong and absorbant. It has a brillient sheen and unique softness.

How to make children clothing at home?

When it comes to kids clothing, you want to do your best to have the best clothes with low cost and high quality for your children. One option is going to a shop physically or buying clothes online. Other option which many people like is handmade children's clothing.

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Making children clothes at your home is often cheaper, have better quality fabrics and can be made to fit each individual child. It is like bringing physically what is on your mind. It is time consuming, but many people find it interesting and like to sew clothes for their beloved juniors. For some people it is a free-time spending activity and for some it’s a hobby. Whatever, the main thing is that people like doing it. For each garment that you make, there is a wide range of fabric to choose from.

Keep the use of the garment, comfort of the child and the safety in mind for your next project. Children grow quickly and go through clothing rapidly. Most of the kids have a favorite type of clothing they like to wear again and again. Making clothes for your children at home gives you the ability to recreate a favorite garment in a different color, size or style. One other benefit of making clothes for your children at home is that, kids can be involved in the process by selecting the fabric they want. There are few phases of making clothes for kids at home:

Selecting the right fabric

It is not only the first step, but also the most important step. When selecting a fabric, consider the comfort as well as the choice of your children.

Engineering part

Taking measurements correctly is essential to fit the clothing to your children. Measure the child around the arms, chest, shoulders, waist, hips, thighs, inseam and length.

Creating a pattern

Children change size often, so buying a mannequin would be too costly. Lay a garment on top of a large paper and trace around the line of stitching of each piece of the garment. Once the pattern pieces are made, you can then make any adjustments required. If a pair of pants is too long make the pattern shorter. You can add width to the legs of a pant’s pattern to make wide leg pant. The waist of a pants pattern can be used and skirt panels can be drawn on the bottom of the pattern. Add ¼” to the edges of the patterns after patterns are completed. Add 1” to the bottom of the pattern for a hem.

Making the actual clothing

Cut fabric from the patterns you have created. Then cut the fabric for all the items at once, if you are making multiple items. Stitch the garment together by placing the right sides of the fabric towards each other. Once the garment is turned right side out, the seams will be on the inside of the garment. Stitch the seams together with an over-lock machine to ensure the fabric will not fray.

Some trimming at the end

Add innovative trim to the bottom of a garment for a different look. Have fun with your project and consider your child participation important.

Involving kids not only increases children’s interest, but also their knowledge about the color and fabric to choose and not to forget the effort that is required to make kids clothing. 

How to choose best fabric for kids clothing?

Choosing clothes has been a serious issue. Buying kids clothes is one of many things that people are concerned about. And this concern is global because no matter where you live, who you are or to which culture you belong, you are a human like other people living in other areas of the world.

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This concern takes a hype when you are looking for kids clothing. And you should be worried because many fabrics of kids clothing are harmful for your kid's skin. Many people buy expensive clothes and think that they have done their job, but this is not the case. When you are buying clothes for your children, you should consider many things including the most important thing, the fabric. Reason why you should consider fabric as an important factor is that, some children have a skin which would react negatively to most of the fabrics.

Cotton, silk, woolen, linen and polyester may be used for kids clothing. However, kids' skin, different climatic conditions and different occasions demand different fabrics. Cotton knits, soft fleece and faded cottons, all are more comfortable choices for kids clothing. Keep in mind the following things:

• Let your child choose what to wear, but choose fabric by yourself. Because your child do not know which fabric to use and which to not. Do not choose clothes for your children, but help them choose the best one.

• Choose a durable fabric that works best for hard and rough use. Because children are not going to take care of their clothes very much. Denim jeans, polyester blends and khaki are tough choices for these clothes.

• Avoid itchy and non-breathable fabrics and choose fabrics which are comfortable for kids to wear.

• The fabric must be washable because children clothing is being washed very frequently. Avoid fabrics that shrink and fade in the wash. Permanent press fabrics or tumble dry knits are best choices for multiple wash purpose.

• Only use flame-retardant fabric for making children's pajamas. Look for a label on the end of the fabric bolt core, with a sign indicating that this fabric is suitable for children's pajama.

Synthetic fabric may be low priced and look good, but try to avoid them because they have chemicals and dyes and many children are allergic to them.

workwear clothing is important for company growth

Work-wear clothing is very important for company growth. Workwear clothing is used by employees during work. Workwear clothing is also known as corporate clothing. Due to increasing competition, organizations are making their efforts towards differentiation.

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One of many efforts for differentiation comes in workwear clothing. Workwear clothing is the one thing that differentiates employees of one company with the other. It sets an impression and delivers a message of the standard of the organization. Because when an outsider sees an organization's employee, the first thing he will notice may be, workwear clothing. You can say something without saying anything through carefully chosen workwear clothing.

Now, power has shifted from suppliers to customers because there are more suppliers now and increased competition. So, it is difficult to attract customers towards your company and if you want to attract the traffic, you would need to be unique in every terms from the competition. Believe it or not, workwear clothing helps in giving competitive advantage. Think about it. Do you remember AIDA model? Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. The first A stands for Attention.

Attracting a customer is the basic thing in getting competitive advantage and workwear clothing is the one thing that helps us in achieving it. Workwear manufacturers are also getting smarter and knowing the fact that workwear contributes to getting competitive advantage, they are bringing better ideas in workwear clothing. And not only this, workwear suppliers are offering attractive offers because of increasing demand.

Clothes and Shoes: Learning to be content

You are always looking for better and that is why you replace things quickly, even if you do not need them. Have you ever analyzed yourself that you have enough to be content. I think no. Many things to consider, but I would talk about shoes and clothing. You are not restricted to only men's shoes or women's shoes, but you go for more specific shoes like Italian shoes, leather shoes, China shoes etc.

Source: Google images

When you observe your surroundings, watch something new on t.v or watch someone wearing something unique, you suddenly switch  your choice. Things you have already, certainly become old and you do not need them any more. You do not even consider the extra cost you incur in buying extra clothing and shoes. Not only money, but you spend a lot of time in buying and searching for shoes and clothes. This becomes an addiction for some people and they just like to collect new designs of wears, without thinking that what else would have been done with that precious money and time.

You could have spent that money on people who are underprivileged, who cannot buy even the basics of clothing and who do not have any other basics which are essential for happy and healthy living. On average, we only use about 15-20% of our clothes. Imagine reducing 50% of your clothes which would mean 50% less laundry, 50% more space and 50% less money spending. Spend the 50% to enjoy a trip with your family or friends and give clothes away to people in need. Among the wears you have, you sometimes become confused that what to wear and still you want more. Isn't it shocking? For some people it is not. Because sometimes, you are so much involved in keeping up with the changing trends, that you forget the negatives. And not to forget the major contributor that forces you to buy extra; competition. It is very common that you start competing with your neighbors, co-workers, friends etc.

Everybody wants to look unique and outdone others and they think life is a race, but this is not good. Stop it. I am not saying that trying to look better and unique is a bad thing, but it should have limits. Because excess of anything is not good. This interpersonal competition has made us look cosmetic in some cases. Showing off, what you are not, has become our theme. Change it and spend you time and money for a better cause.

Do you remember the shoes or clothes you had 5 years ago? Probably not. But you do remember, the picnic that you had with your family 10 years ago or you do remember the person who you helped and he gave you a smile. So why not to spend on things that are important enough that you remember them even after 10 years.