Fabric Guide

Fabric Guide Thread Count Stopped Being a Measurement When Mills Started Counting PliesThread count is a density figure that the test standard says must count a plied yarn once, and the four-digit numbers on bedding packaging are usually that count multiplied by the plies rather than more cloth. Reference September 14, 2026 Fabric Guide Momme Is a Weight in Pounds, Not a Silk Quality GradeA momme figure is the weight in pounds of a 45 inch by 100 yard piece of silk, so it reports how much fibre sits in a given area and says nothing about how good that fibre is. Guide September 7, 2026 Fabric Guide Mercerized Cotton Is a Caustic Soda Bath, Not a Better PlantMercerizing is a finishing treatment that rearranges the cotton's crystal structure in strong alkali under tension, so the word says nothing about how good the cotton was to start with. Field note August 27, 2026 Fabric Guide Fill Power Is a Volume Test, Not a Warmth RatingFill power reports how much space a fixed weight of down occupies, so it describes loft per gram rather than how warm the finished coat will be. Explainer August 20, 2026 Fabric Guide Elastane Is the Two Percent That Decides When the Garment DiesStretch clothes are usually retired because a few percent of elastane stopped recovering, while the cotton or polyester doing almost all the work is still sound. Checklist August 10, 2026 Fabric Guide Staple Length Is the Cotton Number Brands Almost Never PrintCotton is graded and priced by how long its fibers are, and that measurement predicts pilling and thinning better than the price on the tag does. Explainer August 3, 2026 Fabric Guide Merino and the Micron Number Behind the PriceTwo garments labeled merino can feel completely different because fiber fineness, measured in microns, decides comfort more than the brand does. Reference July 23, 2026 Fabric Guide Rayon, Modal, and Lyocell Are the Same Fiber FamilyRayon, modal, and lyocell all start as wood-pulp cellulose, so the name on the tag describes a manufacturing process, not a different material. Reference July 16, 2026 Fabric Guide Drape: The Quiet Reason Some Clothes Look ExpensiveDrape describes how fabric falls, and it can change the mood of a simple garment. Field note June 20, 2026 Fabric Guide Synthetic Fabrics: When They Help and When They Do NotSynthetic fibers can add stretch, durability, and water resistance, but they also change breathability. Explainer May 16, 2026 Fabric Guide Wool Beyond Winter CoatsWool appears in suiting, knits, light layers, and travel pieces because it handles temperature well. Checklist April 11, 2026 Fabric Guide Linen Wrinkles Are a Feature, Not Always a FlawLinen's rumpled texture is part of its comfort, but quality and styling still matter. Reference March 7, 2026 Fabric Guide Cotton Weights Explained Without Fabric-Store JargonCotton can feel crisp, soft, heavy, sheer, structured, or limp depending on weave and weight. Guide January 31, 2026