Natural Fibres
Fabrics made from plant or animal fibres such as cotton, linen, wool and silk, valued for breathability, hand-feel and biodegradability.
Cotton Poplin
A crisp, tightly woven plain-weave cotton with a smooth, lustrous face — the classic shirting fabric.
FabricDenim
A rugged warp-faced cotton twill with a coloured warp and white weft — the fabric of jeans.
FabricFrench Terry
A knit with a smooth face and soft looped back — the mid-weight fabric of sweatshirts and joggers.
FabricLinen
A cool, strong plant-fibre cloth woven from flax — highly breathable but prone to creasing.
FabricMercerised Cotton
Cotton treated under caustic tension to gain lustre, strength and better dye uptake — a finish, not a fibre.
FabricOxford Cloth
A basketweave cotton shirting with a soft, textured basket face — the classic button-down cloth.
ComparisonPoplin vs Oxford Cloth
Two classic cotton shirtings: poplin is a smooth, crisp, formal plain weave; oxford is a softer, textured basketweave.
FabricSingle Jersey
The basic weft-knit fabric — smooth face, looped back, with lengthwise stretch — the T-shirt staple.
FabricViscose Rayon
A soft, drapey semi-synthetic fibre regenerated from wood pulp — silk-like but weak when wet.