Fabrics for Blouses & Fabrics for Dresses

Fabrics for Blouses & Fabrics for Dresses

Here at The Fabric Marketplace, one can get excited about the various different varieties of fabrics we have in store. And most of us make the common mistake of purchasing a fabric and not knowing what to create out of it.

Apart from our Curated collections, where we curate fabrics based off an inspiration or theme, we also sort our fabrics based on project types to help crafters identify the suitable material for their projects, be it blouses, dresses or other knickknacks.

In this article, we will talk about the top 3 crowd favorite fabrics that people use to create Blouses & Dresses as well as their properties and characteristics.

 

Poplin - Light and Breathable

Poplin Inspiration Board

Also known as tabinet, Poplin is a lightweight, breathable fabric which is perfect for our humid weather. Poplin is made with a tight plain weave which results in the material being smooth to the touch. Traditionally, it was made using natural fibers such as wool, cotton or silk that have a horizontal warp and a vertical weft. In modern times, Poplin can be created using synthetic fibers, resulting in various polyester blends.

Poplin is well loved by many and these characteristics explains perfectly why it is so:

  1. Poplin is Lightweight and is an ideal fabric choice for our humid climate. Poplin is perfect for shirtings, blouses, as well as dresses. However, Poplin may be translucent and most of the time requires a lining.
  2. Poplin is versatile. It has a luxurious sheen which allows it to be worn not just for casual occasions, but as well as for formal events.
  3. Poplin is Durable. Although it is one of the smoothest and softest fabric, poplin is relatively strong and can go through heavy wears and multiple machine washes. Thi fabric can hold it's shape well making it wrinkle-resistant, a perfect fabric for dresses and blouses.
  4. Poplin is inexpensive. This fabric is machine-washable and can be easily maintained at home without having to spend extra cash at the Dry Cleaners. Despite being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, Poplin comes in a wide range of price points, from polyester poplin being the cheapest to silk and wool blends being the most expensive. 

 

Crepe - Just like Silk

Shop Crepe Fabrics

 

Not to be mistaken for the dessert. Back in the days, crepe fabric was made solely from silk. Nowadays, crepe fabrics can be made from a wide range of natural and/or synthetic fibers. Creating the signature crinkled yet light appearance of crepe fabrics involves weaving and sewing intricately to acheive an unevenly woven, wrinkled appearance. With that being said, there are many different kinds of Crepe fabrics depending on the material as well as the methods used to create its textures.

Here are the characteristics of Crepe fabrics that'll help explain the material's appeal: 

  1. Crepe fabric is wrinkle free. Due to it's already textured look, this material is favoured for it's day-to day wear as they require little to no pressing.
  2. Crepe fabric is absorbent and can be dyed into various colours and prints making this material versatile to create different kinds of blouses and dresses.
  3. Crepe fabric is soft and comfortable. Although Crepe fabric has a textured handfeel, it is actually really comfortable and does not bite into your skin. Due to it's special look, comfort, as well as it being relatively lightweight, it is a popular fabric choice across the globe for dresses and blouses.

 

The downside of it is that these beautiful fabrics require being washed in the Dry cleaners to prevent the risk of it shrinking in a washing machine. Crepe fabrics made from luxury fibers such as silk and wool will be relatively pricier too. 

Keeping in mind that there are many different ways and many different kinds of fibers that can be used to create Crepe fabrics, it is important to follow the care instructions of your garment before you send it to the washing.

Want to know how you can wash your delicates without heading to the Dry cleaners? Check out our article about "How to care for your Silk fabrics" and you can get tips on how to clean delicates without burning a hole in your wallet.

 

Denim - Durable and Versatile

Denim Inspiration

 

Almost everyone in this world owns a denim item in their closet (or at some point of your life). Before Denim fabric became a popular fashion piece, it was originally used to make work clothes for workers.

Denim is created when cotton fiber is spun into yarn. An inidigo dye is used to dye the warp yarn, which results in the signature blue colour of denim, while the weft remains white. The fibers are then intertwined tightly with high density resulting in the fabric being strong, durable and easy to shape. These days, people add polyester or lycra to improve the wrinkling, as well as the shrinking properties of Denim.

So what's so great about Denim?

  1. Denim absorbs sweat well. It is cooling and brings comfort to the wearer. It is easily one of the best fabric choice for blouses and dresses.
  2. Denim is Durable. It is a popular choice to create protective work wear and uniforms for workers.
  3. Denim is highly versatile. This fabric can hold shapes well. Ranging from lightweight to heavyweight, you can create a wide range of fashion items. From the classic Denim jeans to dresses, this fabric can create beautiful drapes as well.
  4. Denim is worth the investment. Although one denim apparel can be quite costly, it's durability and long life expectancy is worth every penny.

 

Although Denim does not have good colour fastness and it's indigo will fade after quite a few washes, this material can withstand machine washing and heavy wearing.

 

Of course, there are many more fabrics that are great for creating blouses and dresses which you can explore more here:

 

We hope that this will help kickstart some inspiration to create some amazing items on your end. Do remember to tag us on Instagram as we would love to see your creations with our fabrics.

 

Unsure about purchasing fabrics when you've never felt them before? Not to worry! We offer a Sample Swatch Service, delivered straight to your doorstep. Click here for more information.

Alternatively, if you'd like to drop by our warehouse and have a personal feel of our fabrics, do make an appointment with us at support@thefabricmarketplace.com

 

Till next time!

Stay safe and happy sewing.

 

 

 

Image Source:

 
Back to blog