Corduroy clothing was for many years regarded as an old-fashioned, warm type of fabric. Over time, however, it has gained recognition and has become the fabric of today's trends. On top of that, it is widely used in autumn and winter garments thanks to its warm weave.
This type of fabric was essential in the 18th century, as it was used for the uniforms of English workers during the Industrial Revolution. It was also used to make school uniforms, and some time later it became the key fabric used by the British aristocracy to make their hunting suits.
What is corduroy clothing?
It is a velvety fabric made from organic cotton. Its ribbed texture is what sets it apart from all the other fabrics. But the best part is that there are 4 types of corduroy fabric, which can be told apart by their type of yarn.
The most well-known is made with 10 to 25 threads, while the finest is made with 40 threads – surprising, isn't it? As well as being extremely soft, it is one of the most hard-wearing fabrics, because it can stay in good condition if handled with care.
As sustainable fashion keeps moving forward, it isn't afraid to bring back old fabrics and shape them to new trends. That's why we currently see corduroy garments on trend, such as trousers, miniskirts, jackets, coats and more.
What is corduroy made of?
This type of sustainable fabric is made from organic cotton. To be able to produce corduroy, manufacturers have to use a loom to weave a large number of threads individually. The threads interlace with one another, and this is how the shape and the quality of the fabric are determined.
How is corduroy made?
Its production method depends on the materials used to make it. Wool and cotton are usually used, raw materials obtained from animals and from nature, but polyester and rayon can also be used, materials that are produced in factories.
Its manufacturing method follows a series of steps that we'll explain to you below:
1. Weaving
Generally, this type of fabric is characterised by its plain weave. These are weft threads that interlace above and below the warp threads. It can also be done using a twill weave, however this method is not as common.
Once the main fabric is ready, the textile makers add the "pile thread", which is gradually cut to form the typical ridges of corduroy fabric.
2. Setting
Glue is added to the back of the fabric once it has been woven, to secure the pile thread so that it doesn't come away while the fabric is being cut. The manufacturers then take care of removing the glue.
3. Cutting
The textile makers use an industrial cutter to cut the pile thread. Once cut, it is brushed and singed to achieve, as the final result, uniform, silky ridges
4. Pigmenting
To create a unique pattern, the corduroy fabric is dyed completely with pigments. This pattern is then accentuated much more, gradually with washing, giving this fabric a unique finish.
Types of corduroy that exist
The type of corduroy generally depends on the number of grooves per inch it has. These grooves are known as wales and run vertically throughout the fabric. Now then, the fewer wales the fabric has, the thicker they are. On the other hand, the greater the number of columns, the more wales the fabric will have,
Now that you know this, we'll tell you which types of corduroy exist:
Standard corduroy
Standard corduroy is characterised by having 11 wales per inch. So, if you're looking for corduroy fabric of this type, you should check whether the fabric has between 8 and 12 columns per inch. This fabric is very common in trousers, miniskirts, jackets and more.
Pinwale corduroy
Each inch is made up of many small wales. Many of these fabrics can even have up to 21 wales per inch. This fabric is generally used in garments for babies and children and for sewing soft toys.
Elephant corduroy
This fabric took on this name because its folds resemble the skin of an elephant. It is characterised by having thick wales and around 1.5 to 6 columns per inch. This fabric is considered one of the warmest compared with the other types of corduroy, which is why it is used for winter clothing.
Pigmented corduroy
It is known for its pigmentation and for its noticeable difference in colour after each wash. In fact, this type of fabric is one of the most used in various types of garments. Its pigmentation process begins before the fabric is cut and sewn.
Spandex corduroy
In production, they generally tend to blend cotton, polyester and wool corduroy with spandex, with the aim of creating a flexible corduroy fabric, known for being one of the most comfortable because it moulds to the body. It is even very common in children's garments.
Bedford corduroy
It is a fabric originating in the United States and is known by the name "corduroy" because its weave is very similar to that of corduroy, but it is not really part of corduroy fabrics. What sets it apart is the pile thread, which is not cut, and its wales are much more subtle compared with the original corduroy fabric.
Corduroy basics for this winter
There are loads of garments that stand out for being made of corduroy fabric and that are also ideal for the winter season. Would you like to know which ones you can wear?
The brand
Clotsy Brand, a
sustainable clothing and
vegan clothing shop, stands out with its new addition to the
corduroy clothing collection that you can wear this winter. Stay cosy with clothing made from 100% organic and sustainable cotton. Best of all, you won't have to stop being comfortable! Take a look at the garments you can wear.
Brick Corduroy Overshirt
An ideal garment that will make your life easier during winter, which you can wear with any piece in your wardrobe. Its beautiful colour will connect you with autumn and make you look better than ever. We recommend going for a jacket to complete your look, and we can assure you that you won't feel cold at any time.
Blue Corduroy Trousers
Looking impeccable this winter will be simpler than you thought, because the blue corduroy trousers will be your best option for staying warm and elegant at the same time.
Blue Corduroy Dungarees
Have you already seen the corduroy dungarees? Hurry, because you can't miss the chance to wear this amazing garment during winter. Don't think twice! They've already sold out once, and we don't promise to restock them.
How to wash and care for your corduroy garments?
When you get corduroy garments, you should bear in mind that you can't wash them like any other garment. You must do it as carefully as possible and look after their wales, so that they don't get crushed or fluff up. We recommend checking the label on your garment before washing, ironing and drying, to avoid damage.
If you're thinking of using a washing machine, turn the garment inside out and don't put it together with fabrics that have lint, such as sweaters, wool jackets or towels. Generally, this type of fabric tends to attract a lot of lint and it can be very tedious to remove.
Conclusion
Corduroy fabric has nowadays become a fabric that is widely used in garments that are on trend; however, it has always had a place in the heart of fashion, thanks to its versatility.
There are many garments made from this fabric that look incredible and are ideal for all seasons of the year. So much so that garments of this type have become a very good option for winter, ever since the fabric was used to make the suits of English workers during the Industrial Revolution.
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