How to Choose the Right Fabric
Before any garment is made, we visualise and design it and then the mission to choose the right
fabric for the attire sets in. So, we decide the character of the outfit, whether it is structured or
flowy or a drape, and then we decide on the fabric accordingly.
The purpose for which the garment is made – regular wear, semi-formal or formal occasion is
another point to consider. Custom tailoring is a specialised field, and one must think laterally and
consider many fine points. Some of the specific points to consider are the gender of the person, age,
body type and last but not the least important is the client’s personal preferences.
At Kashvie we sell running fabrics, un-stitched suit sets, sarees and blouse material. All the items
are painstakingly curated by us and appreciated by our discerning clientele. Custom tailoring is the
next step in the long life-story of a piece of garment!
Types of Fabrics
Fabrics are broadly divided into Natural and man – made categories. Natural fibres originating from
plants are mainly Cotton, Linen, Jute, Hemp. Silk is a natural fibre produced by silkworms. Man made
fibres are made of various chemicals or are regenerated from plant fibres. They are mainly
polyester, nylon, acrylic and Rayon.
Our Rich Heritage
The market is flooded with fabrics and India is a haven for the garment manufacturers. Our rich
textile heritage does us proud and we are blessed to be born in this country with a 5000-year-old
ancient civilization. History of clothing in the Indian subcontinent can be traced to the Indus Valley
civilization or earlier. Indians have mainly worn clothing made up of locally grown cotton. India was
one of the first places where cotton was cultivated and used even as early as 2500 BCE during the
Harrapan era.
The geographical location of a place also plays an important part in selecting a fabric. So, in tropical
countries of the Indian subcontinent natural fibres are most sought after. They are breathable
fabrics and provide great comfort to the wearer. India is a vast country, and each state has its own
rich textile history. Apart from the fibre chosen to weave the cloth the texture of a fabric also
depends on the different techniques of weaving involved in the production. Cloth weaving is another
vast topic and best kept for another day!
Market Mania
When we visit a cloth market in India we come across terms like Pure Cotton, Pure Silk, Raw Silk,
Rayon, Polyester, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Benarasi, Mangalgiri, Pure Chiffon, Crepe de chine, Poly
silk, Polycotton, Poly crepe, Wool, Acrlic , Blended fabrics and list is exhaustive!! These are all types
of fabrics and derive their name from either their fibre component or their place of origin.
India’s handloom industry is huge. The handlooms of India have been there ruling for centuries with
the fabric quality, motifs and weaving process.
Hand-loom Chanderi
Handloom Chanderi fabric originated in Chanderi, a small town in the central Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh. This fabric is traced back to the Vedic period where it is said to be founded by Shishupal, a
cousin of Lord Krishna. The admiration for Chanderi fabric reached great heights throughout the
Mughal reign and even till present day it is the most sought-after fabric for its glossy transparency
and sheer texture. There are mainly three kinds of Chanderi fabric – Chanderi Pure Silk, Chanderi
Pure Cotton and Chanderi Silk Cotton.
Hand loom Maheshwari
Hand-loom Maheshwari fabric is available in silk, silk cotton, cotton and also wool. The name of the
saree / fabric comes from the historic city of Maheshwar, which is located on the banks of the
Narmada river. The Maheshwari sarees are endorsed by the Royals of Maheshwar and are loved
widely because of their lightweight and airy features. The weaving technique and the combination of
colours and patterns are unique to Maheshwar while the yarn is obtained from South India and the
wool comes from Australia. Maheshwari hand-loom is a great piece to wear and flaunt.
Hand Loom Benarasi
Handloom Benarasi fabric / sarees from Varanasi showcase the richness of our textile industry in its
ultimate form. Ancient Buddhist and Hindu texts refer to the city as a cotton weaving hub. During
the Mughal period, around 14th century, weaving of brocades with intricate designs using gold and
silver threads became the speciality of Benares. Benarasi sietslk fabric is made by twisting the
filaments of silk together, resulting in a durable and sturdy fabric. Katan, Organza, Tanchoi and
Georgette are some of the types of Benarasi fabrics.
Handloom Kanjeevaram
We cannot write about Indian fabrics without mentioning some of the fabrics originating in South
India. Kanjeevaram takes the topmost position, equal to the Benarasi silk from Varanasi in North
India. The origin of the Kanjeevaram saree dates back to centuries ago when these sarees used to be
woven in temples. They are woven from pure mulberry silk and are woven altogether from the pallu
to the body of the saree. Golden thread is used for weaving the designs.
Conclusion
Now that we know broadly about the kinds of fabrics available, we can opt for the most suitable one
for our ensemble and march on to the next stage of our garment construction! Remember that we
at Kashvie.in guide you in your selection of fabric, garment design and tailor it made to measure. It
could be for regular wear, lounge wear, sleep wear, office wear, semi formal or formal occasions.
The garment may be Indian wear like ladies’ suits, palazzo sets, co – ord sets, kaftans or Western
wear like trousers, tops, short and long dresses or Indo Western attire, a fusion of ethnic and
modern.