Cotton or Polycotton Fabric

When shopping for clothes, consumers are presented with a wide range to choose from. The combination of fabrics, styles, and different manufacturers can make the choice a daunting one. Two of the more popular fabrics for clothes are 100% cotton fabric and polycotton fabric. But which is the best choice? In short, that depends on what the buyer is looking for.



So, what are the differences between 100% cotton and poly-cotton blend fabrics? To start with, a poly-cotton blend is just what its name suggests: a fabric that is made up of cotton and polyester fibers. The ratio varies, with 65% cotton and 35% polyester being the most common. 50/50 blends are also easily found. The blend is designed to afford the advantages of both the cotton and polyester fibers into one fabric.






What are the advantages and disadvantages of cotton?


100% cotton is a fully breathable fabric, which means that it can be cooler to wear in hot conditions. However, as the thickness increases, the breathability decreases. 100% cotton tends to rip and wear out easily, depending on the weave. Cotton canvas is a very durable and abrasion-resistant fabric, but it is very thick and heavy. In regards to safety, cotton fibers that have not been treated for fire resistance will tend to burn away where polyester will melt. As a natural fiber, 100% cotton garments also tend to be a bit more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.






Polyester has an equal number of advantages and disadvantages as cotton


Polyester does not breathe and has a tendency to stick to the skin once perspiration begins. In regard to durability, polyester is a more elastic fiber and therefore tends to be tear resistant. However, it does not tend to be as abrasion-resistant as cotton canvas. As polyester is not dependent upon the forces of nature for a successful harvest, it is usually considerably cheaper than 100% cotton.






A fabric made from a polycotton blend combines the strengths of the two fibers. Polycotton garments are breathable, tear-resistant, and can be fashioned into abrasion-resistant fabrics, like canvas. While not as inexpensive as pure polyester, polycotton blends do tend to cost less than comparable garments made of 100% cotton and they provide much more comfort. The previously mentioned 65/35 blend of cotton and polyester is the most popular for work garments, particularly because of price, durability and a larger color selection is available for purchase. When shopping for work garments, the choice between 100% cotton and polycotton blends depends largely on the work environment and personal preference. If employees work indoors around machinery, the tear-resistance of polycotton may be favorable. If the work is in an outdoor setting, particularly in hot climates, 100% cotton fabric could be the better choice. Before deciding, make sure to take all environmental factors into consideration.


It is the intention of this article to help shed some light on the different types of fabric characteristics of 100% cotton and poly cotton fabric. We are hoping to share our thoughts with you in order for you to make a more informed decision when choosing the fabric type for your garments.






If you’ve ever wondered what’s the difference between water-resistant and water-repellent or between water-repellent and waterproof or between water-resistant and waterproof textiles and clothing, you’ve come to the right place.


The main function of outdoor clothing is to provide protection against environmental factors. In a wet environment, the basic requirement for clothing is to keep the wearer dry. Therefore, the outer layer of your clothing, as well as your gloves or mitts, need to resist moisture. But what are the main terms regarding this? What do they really mean? Is there any difference between them? If so, what’s the difference? Here, we’ll try to answer these and many other questions regarding water-repellent, water-resistant, and waterproof fabrics and clothing.


In contact with water, water-repellent materials form beads on the outside that can be easily removed from the fabric surface. This means that water can’t easily penetrate the material; however, for longer contact with water or with a higher pressure difference, the material will absorb water. Water-repellent fabrics are often compact textile structures or common materials treated with hydrophobic chemicals. Although water-resistant and water-repellent are often used interchangeably, there’s a difference as water-resistant fabrics will resist wetting by water for longer. Waterproofing of a material is defined as the property of a material not to be penetrated by fluids, i.e. a waterproof material must be impervious to water.






Tencel fabric is a popular fabric of choice for eco-conscious clothing brands. It’s light and versatile, and used in everything from casual wear to underwear to activewear. But what impact does it have on people, the planet, and animals? Is Tencel ethical and sustainable? We’ve put together a cheatsheet to help demystify this fabric and put the power back in your hands. Tencel is a type of rayon, like viscose and modal. These cellulose fibres are all made in a similar way: by dissolving wood pulp and using a special drying process called spinning. Before drying, the wood chips are mixed with a solvent to produce a wet mixture. This mixture is then pushed through small holes to form threads, chemically treated, then the lengths of fibre are spun into yarn and woven into cloth. 






Table linen fabric is a fabric that can be reused, including tablecloths, napkins, placemats, table skirts and napkins. 


Table napkins are a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing or place mats, which serve as a table linen for an individual place setting. Linen napkins, especially those with a vibrant color, are often used to transform a table from the ordinary to special. 


A tablecloth is used to cover a table. They can be ornamental coverings, as well as a provider of protection from scratches and stains. Other tablecloths are designed to be spread on a dining table before laying out tableware and food. Tablecloths are standard covering for a restaurant dining table and in many homeowners formal dinner tables and are often high quality, bright white linen or cotton cloth. Some of the most popular types of tablecloth fabric include cotton, polyester and linen tablecloths. Polyester tablecloths are easy to wipe down and clean and are often found in casual dining restaurants. 






Lightweight cotton fabrics come in a variety of weights from sheer to semi-sheer. You can see lines from the cutting table (or your hand) underneath the sheer fabric. This means fashionable sheer cotton dresses must be lined with lining fabric. They can also be worn with a camisole or an underbody. Not all lightweight kinds of cotton are sheer. Some darker and/or printed fabrics go with regular lingerie.


Fabrics like cotton gauze and cotton voile fold nicely and make airy dresses with a drapery. A gauze also has some crinkle to it so it is often used for making tunics, tops, swimsuit cover-ups etc. Cotton lawn fabrics are a little more of semi-sheer, closer to opaque. Liberty is probably the most popular and favourite brand. They are super soft and really wearable especially after being washed.






High thread count Egyptian cotton bedding sheets fabric is a very popular item in the luxury bedding category recently. Fabric thread counts have spiraled to dizzying heights, and now range from 180 to 1500. Traditional wisdom counsels that fabric increases in softness as thread count increases, so shoppers gravitate toward high numbers when making their final purchasing decision. However, the rules for determining quality fabrics in the marketplace has changed. You can no longer make an apple-to-apple comparison between two bed sheet sets based strictly on thread count numbers.