Fabrics to wear during the heat.
Summer may be one of the most popular seasons, but always manoeuvring smoothly and stylishly through the sweltering days can be quite a challenge. We are here to help you feel better, by choosing fabrics that are breathable and airy. With these fabrics in your wardrobe, you will go into spring and summer without sweat and will be able to enjoy the summer months.
Cotton
Cotton is the answer to every weather forecast; no matter how dry or dirty The natural fibre of cotton allows air to circulate freely. It is lightweight and it feels soft. A good quality lightweight cotton allows moisture to be absorbed, leaving you cooler. But there are some drawbacks: sweat spots are more visible. This can be overcome by wearing light colours of fabrics. Be careful to note, it does wrinkle quickly and when washed incorrectly it might shrink.
Be careful when you want to buy as sustainable as possible, though. Organic cotton might seem the best sustainable option. Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical pesticides that are bad for the cotton crop, the environment, and the farmers. However, this does mean that it needs almost 3 times as much water as conventional cotton, as it needs more time to grow.
If you want to know how Cotton is produced, check out our old article here.
Linen
Linen is the most cooling fabric of all. This is due to the use of few threads (80-100 whereas with cotton usually 200 or more are used), the fabric allows even more air to pass through. Super breathable. Linen is a lightweight fabric, but also very strong at the same time. Are you looking for an item that you can use for years? Then a linen item is your new best friend.
The fabric can absorb a fifth of its weight in water before becoming damp, so it absorbs sweat on hot days. Washing linen clothes, in contrast to cotton, only makes the fabric softer because the stiff fabrics fibres are broken down. Only downside: linen wrinkles quickly.
Don't like ironing? Then it is better to choose a different fabric. The poor elasticity of linen also means that it does not spring back to its normal shape quickly after you get up from your wicker chair from the terrace. To overcome this you can spray your garment with some water and rub the creases away if you don't have an iron within reach. Lastly, it is also sustainable. It is strong, naturally moth resistant, and made from fast-growing flax plant fibres. When untreated (e.g. dyed) it is fully biodegradable.
If you want to know more about how Linen is produced, check out our article here.
Wool
When we think of wool, we often think of winter, warmth and security. But do you also know that you can use wool very well in the summer? Wool is versatile and durable, provides a cooling effect, absorbs moisture and ventilates the best. That is why you can use wool perfectly in the summer.
Wool is antibacterial, which means that bacteria do not adhere to the wool. As a result, woolen clothing stays nice and fresh for longer. In addition, wool absorbs up to 35% of its own weight in water and draws sweat from the body. The stored moisture evaporates due to the ventilating properties of wool. This prevents clothing from becoming damp quickly, so that you stay dry and fresh for longer, without getting cold.
There are many quality differences that you should pay attention to. In addition, wool is a fabric with a manual and as a rule also more expensive. The downside? When wet it loses a third of its strength and extreme dryness causes wool to break.
Wool is a sustainable fabric and is even kind to the earth. However, please be mindful of where your wool comes from in relation to animal rights.
If you want to know more about how Wool is produced, check out our article here.
Hemp
Like linen, hemp is extremely breathable, regulates body temperature perfectly and is particularly comforting and skin-friendly. Hemp keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter by trapping a layer of air between your skin and the garment. Besides that, hemp fibres easily absorb up to 30% of their own weight in water.
But hemp is not only a flattering choice for the dog days but also exceptionally easy to care for and a real sustainability wonder. Hemp production requires four times less water than cotton production. Also, every single part of the hemp plant can be used by humans so that no part needs to be wasted.
Hemp is naturally organic and requires no herbicides or pesticides and is, like all-natural fibres, biodegradable. On a really sunny day, a dress or shirt made of hemp fibres is a really good choice because of its high UV resistance and its antimicrobial characteristics.
Fun fact, hemp is made in exactly the same process that creates linen from the stem of the flax plant, so it’s no wonder that hemp and linen share a similar texture once processed into fabric.
If you want to know more about how Hemp is produced, check out our article here.
Sources:
https://ecocult.com/5-surprising-reasons-love-wearing-wool/
https://www.mulberryscleaners.com/blog/stay-cool-4-best-fabrics-summer/
https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/a22069616/best-worst-fabrics-summer-sweat/
https://www.citizenwolf.com/blogs/news/why-hemp-is-the-most-sustainable-fabric