There are numerous fabrics for fashion and apparel wear in the market – from linen fabrics, leather, and everything in between. It just depends on who is seeking it and what it’s for. Dressmakers, fashion designers, tailors, footwear manufacturers, fashion accessories makers, couturists, sewing enthusiasts, and garment producers.
Textile manufacturers produce millions of yards of fabrics daily. Online stockists and local retailers sell thousands of yards every day. And consumers get materials to serve every apparel requirement.
Top 11 Fabrics for Fashion and Apparel
The top textile collections popular with the fashion and style industry include lace, satin, cotton, voile, velvet, tulle, and metallic and embellished fabrics. They come plain, colorful, patterned, and textured, each possessing varying qualities. Some of these materials are made with natural fibres, while others are blends of two or more different fibres. The top choices in the industry include:
- Sheer fabrics.
- Lace materials.
- Prints.
- Sequined cloth.
- Linen.
- Silk.
- Cotton.
- Velvet.
- Novelty fabrics.
- Stretch fabrics.
- Leather (faux and authentic).
Sheer Textiles
Sheer materials are basically see-through cloths. They are soft, silky and ideal for stylishly flowing garments, shawls, and scarves. The fabrics are made from natural fibres like cotton, linen, and silk and synthetic fibres like nylon chiffon, viscose, polyester and rayon chiffon. Examples of sheer sewing fabrics are organza, chiffon, crushed sheer voile, sheer prints, and tulle.
Lace Materials
Lace is luxurious, classic, and timeless. It comes in various weaves, designs, and textures. Depending on type, its weave construction is anything from light-weight to heavy.
There are stretch, embellished, guipure, and embroidered lace. French, Swiss, English, and Italian lace. And then there is Chantilly lace, mesh lace, metallic lace, fancy lace, and more. Quite a collection of luxury lace fabrics.
Lace is commonly used for adult and children’s clothing, bridal, formal, and all occasion wear.
Prints
There are a zillion types of printed fabrics in so many amazing patterns. With printed fabrics, a sewing enthusiast’s creativity can hit the sky. The prints include African, plaid, charmeuse, sheer, and canvas prints. Their patterns are from the soft and muted to the bold and vibrant. The best quality prints are those whose colours are bonded with the fabric’s fibre.
Sequined cloth
Sequined textiles are luxury novelty fabrics of various forms, patterns, colours, ornateness, and styles. Sequins and similar embellishments are applied on different fabrics, from lace and voile to velvet, satin, cotton, and organza.
Sequins are glitzy and make fabrics sparkle. Their fabrics come in various designs, including mermaid sequins, circle sequins, piano and square, and two-tone sequins. Embellished fabrics like these are the go-to for speciality clothing and fashion accessories. Sequined materials also make beautiful tops, dresses, and evening wear.
Linen
Everyone loves linen fabrics. It is durable and long-lasting and is made from natural flax fibres. Because linen is a highly absorbent fabric, it can be worn even in hot and humid conditions. It comes in many colours, weaves, and textures and is used extensively in the fashion and apparel industry. Linen is also used for a variety of purposes aside from the clothing industry. These include textile-based home furnishings, lampshades and table linen.
Silk
Silk, one of the most luxurious fibres ever, is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. The mulberry silkworm produces the best silk fibre. But there are other varieties depending on the worm making it.
Sought-after and admired as far back as ancient days, silk was rated as gold standard textiles in the ancient trade by barter business of the Middle Ages. It was the popular fabric amongst the rich and noble.
The finest, most luxurious, and most expensive silk materials are Mulberry, Muga, and Charmeuse silks. Others are silk chiffon, silk Dupioni, and Shantung, which feature a slight stiffness that adds structure to the material.
Silk is often used to make stylish clothing, ball gowns, bridal wear, suits, and special occasion garments.
Cotton
100% Cotton fabrics are the top choice of designers in the apparel industry. The material has sub-categories that include denim, cotton blends, cotton broadcloth, cotton duck canvas, cotton lace fabric, cotton twill, terry cloth, muslin, and cotton voile. One excellent attribute of cotton fibres is that they can be woven to create other fabrics like chambray, velvet, flannel, corduroy, brocade, and jersey.
Cotton fabric designs range from solid colours to boldly patterned prints. They are extensively used to produce everything from casual clothing and fashion accessories to sportswear, lingerie, t-shirts, and socks.
Nylon
Nylon is a thin silk-like material for apparel, lingerie, outdoor gear, and home décor items. It is a synthetic material that is durable and weather-resistant. Nylon has similar properties to polyester but is more expensive because of its production process. Nylon fabrics come in various categories – nylon netting, tulle, metallic, lame, and stretch.
Velvet
Velvet, a luxury material, was traditionally constructed entirely from silk fibres. Now, velvet made of silk threads is rare and costly. The choice fabric is now made from cotton, mohair, or wool with a less lustrous but equally beautiful look.
The material has one of the softest and smoothest feel. It is widely used in making clothing, footwear, elegant purses and handbags, pants, jackets, and more. It is one of the most preferred fabrics of fashion designers because it is a high-quality fabric with a touch of elegance.
Novelty fabrics
Novelty fabrics have the most assorted collections and can be used in many ways with endless design possibilities. Some luxury fabrics for fashion and apparel that fall under the category of novelty textiles are:
- Lame
- Faux fur
- Corded materials
- Brushed cotton
- Metallic fabrics
- Embellished fabrics
They are typically designed with quirky patterns, unique textures, animal prints, famous characters, and photo images. Novelty fabrics are used extensively for fashionable attires, fashion accessories, formal and casual wear, etc.
Stretch fabrics for fashion and apparel
The variety of stretch materials is endless, and its sewing possibilities are never-ending. From cotton jersey to mesh stretch, knit fabrics, stretch broadcloth and stretch velvet fabrics, they are commonly used for t-shirts, bodycon dresses, swimwear, and leggings. Stretch fabrics are made with a blend of natural and synthetic fibres like spandex, lycra, and elastin.
Leather textiles
There are two types of leather, real and faux leather. Authentic leather comes in five grades. They are all used for varying qualities of apparel products.
Full grain. This is the highest grade and most expensive type of leather. It is not particularly good to use for apparel and fashion accessories. it is mainly used for designer furniture.
Top grain. Soft, supple, and visually appealing, top-grain leather makes high-quality purses, shoes, hats, and jackets.
Genuine leather. This is a thinner grade than the top grain. It is used for slightly lower-quality fashion pieces – jackets, bags, wallets, belts, shoes, and gloves.
Split grain. The grade is a lower quality than genuine leather and is used for cheaper and more affordable shoes and handbags.
Bonded. This is the lowest grade of leather and the less durable type. It is generally considered a blend of genuine and faux leather. Bonded leather is used for low-quality clothing, shoe components, wallets, portfolios and handbags, and textile lining for fashion accessories.