Cotton is the most commonly used natural fabrics in the world, and one of the oldest textiles to be produced. Its qualities are well-known, and its production streamlined to great efficiency. Mercerised cotton fabrics have a soft touch, lustrous sheen, and absorb colours effectively. It also ensures that a tailored cotton clothing retains its structure well. Our cotton fabrics are some of the most popular, especially unique cloths such as OP1942 Jungle Denim (and lighter or darker denim-like plain weaves).
Officine Paladino’s Mondo cotton fabrics come in a variety of weights and colours.
Light and Breezy
One of the best qualities that cotton offers is its comfort. Soft and gentle on the skin, it suits all skin types, even for babies or adults with sensitive skin. It is also lightweight, which makes layering easier. Lighter cotton fabrics have a looser weave which makes them highly breathable. On a warm day, it allows the skin to cool naturally. A heavier weight cotton becomes a great alternative if you wish to get a little more protection. In general, cotton fabrics at above 300gsm are ‘heavy’, and ‘light’ in the 200gsm range.
Heavier cotton fabrics such as OP1936 Sage Green (320gsm) hold their structure better. For pleated pants or more constructed suiting, consider a cotton above 300gsm.
For light and breezy suiting, consider more relaxed construction and a lighter cotton fabric. Ideal for a warm and humid summer, an unlined or half-lined suit would let you fit in perfectly with the White Lotus crowd. Something like a 250gsm cotton would have enough heft to not crease like linen, while giving your skin plenty of breathing space.
Officine Paladino OP1922 Amber Rush is a lighter weight fabric at 250gsm, ideal for relaxed fits and casual tailoring.
Treat It Well
Most importantly, cotton can easily be enhanced through simple and even organic treatment processes. Many of these can even be done indepenently. For example, if you were tailoring a chore coat, you could possibly request for it to be waxed with beeswax to give it structure and water-repelling properties. Commercially available coating materials turn cotton into a super-yarn, from repelling oil to adding antibacterial properties. (Side note: this can affect the cleaning process of a cotton fabric.) And of course, there are the cotton-and-wool blend fabrics which combine the best qualities of both yarns in one material.
OP2307 Coffee Bean is a cotton-and-wool blend fabric that combines the best of both materials.
We’re just about to refresh our cotton and linen range with fresh new colours and designs. We’ll be keeping some of your favourite cotton fabrics and rolling out new options that includes our first seersucker cloths. Want to know more? Get in touch with our team for a sneak preview!
