How To Choose The Right Fabric For Your Suit

February 17th 2020

Wearing a suit with the perfect fabric not only makes the suit look better on you, but also makes the suit a bit more comfortable. People concentrate so much on getting a suit that fits, they forget to learn how to actually choose the right fabric for their suits. Determining fabrics can be a bit tricky, especially without touching or examining the fabric. However, the first step towards deciding on what kind of fabric to go for is to determine the weight of the fabrics available.

For one to effectively determine the kind of fabric to go for, you should know the occasion your suit is for, the weather condition, the weight of these fabrics and which kind of suits these typical fabric weights are suitable for.

Fabric weights often used for suits :

• 199g - 256g : This is the lightweight. It is ideal for hot summer months as well as hot climates and would be suitable for an event like a summer wedding.
• 270g - 312g : This is between light and mid weight. It is good for transitional seasons and the weight increase implies that it can work for a bit cooler temperatures.
• 312g - 341g : This is mid weight. It is perfect for most of the time and can be worn for a longer period of the year. This kind of fabric is good for first time suit buyers.
• 341g - 369g : This is mid weight but a bit on the heavier side. It is suitable for day-to-day wear and can be used for about eight months of the year.
• 397g - 539g : This is heavy weight and it is not as popular. Anything above 369g brings you into winter temperatures and they are great on a cold autumn.

Selecting The Best Fabric For Your Suit :

Now you know the weight of clothes, the next step is to decide which fabric to go for; some options you should consider include :

Wool : This is very versatile, thus making it a very popular choice. It looks refined and can be worn through mid day heat and cold nights. Wool is a natural material that breathes well, remains soft and wrinkle free for as long you have it on. The only down side about this fabric is that it could tend to be bulky, making it a bad choice for people who like slim fitting fabrics.

Cotton : This is also another popular fabric for suits. It is flexible and breathable just like wool and is very suitable for summer suits. Cotton is also a bit cheaper than wool, but with almost the same effect. The only down side is that it creases quickly and lacks the luxury feel that wool provides.

Cashmere : This fabric is considered very luxurious. It is usually expensive and should be handled with great care. The material gives a shine that creates that European style pleasure suit. For pleasure, cashmere is a great choice but is a no-no for a business environment. It does not make a great business suit.

Silk : Silk is known to be a very expensive fabric that offers superiority and comfort. As a breathable fabric, silk regulates body temperature by retaining body heat in cool weather and expelling body heat in warm conditions. This makes it a great fabric to choose.

Polyester : Polyester is a fabric made from synthetic materials and is not known to be breathable. They also crease quite easily unlike some other fabrics. Polyester suits are deemed low quality because of several factors, including the fact that they have this shine, when compared to cotton and wool, which portrays it as a cheap fabric.

Velvet : This fabric oozes class and style, especially when made into a dinner jacket. Velvet can be worn all year round and is not only luxurious but also breathable.

However, it is not very suitable for the office.

Finally, another fabric that prides high durability is the Worsted wool; mostly due to the way the wool is spun. This makes it a good option for making suits if your intention is to make one that will last for a long time. However, considering how much of an investment a suit can be, the trick is to get it right, take your time and pick out a fabric you will be absolutely comfortable with.