A Lesson On Clothing Fabric

by Nolan rockers July 14, 2020

Since starting Opinion, the quality of our clothing has been something I have been constantly wanting to improve on. In learning about quality and the types of fabric, I now know what a lot of the terms mean, but that doesn’t mean you all do. I always put in the description of the clothing that the fabric is, but you might not understand what that means, so I’d like to outline what fabrics we have used and what they entail so that you can know exactly what you’re getting.

Cotton - Regular cotton is made from fibers that are twisted together to make yarn, which is then woven together to make the material that can make up a regular cotton shirt

Spandex (Lycra) (Elastane) - You’ll find almost every pair of activewear with at least a percentage of spandex (also known as Lycra, or elastane). That’s because spandex is known for being stretchy, hugging the body to give a great flattering fit. The keyword is percentage, though, because it wouldn’t be very comfortable completely on its own. It would feel sticky and not very breathable. Like being hugged by an extremely affectionate rubber band.

Nylon - Nylon has many advantages as a legging fabric blend - it’s exceptionally durable, lightweight, it doesn’t wrinkle easily, and it’s easy to care for. That said, it has a tendency to shrink sometimes, which means it’s important to look at the specific wash and dry care instructions

What does GSM mean? GSM is a metric measurement meaning grams per square meter- it is how much 1 square meter of fabric weighs and the higher the GSM number the denser the fabric will be. Ounce per square yard (oz/sq2) is the imperial measurement which is also commonly used. A piece of lightweight fabric is typically between 30- 150 GSM, medium weight 150-350 GSM, and heavyweight 350+ GSM.

We have been focusing recently on finding the perfect GSM for each piece depending on what season it’s being released in, how heavy we want it to be, and the exact fit it will entail.

I hope this can help you understand a little what goes into each piece and how the quality of Opinion clothing is only getting better.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!