Cotton, wool, and flannel are a few of the most popular—and longstanding—fabrics used for warmth and comfort during the winter. Each fabric has different qualities. These qualities are useful to know in order to pick a comfortable, toasty, and dry fabric to suit a consumer’s needs.

Types of Fabrics

Wool
Which fabric is the best for cold weather? As far as natural fabrics are concerned, wool is one of the best natural fibers. Wool has many tiny air pockets so it’s a great insulator. It's also water-resistant. Wool is, of course, harvested from sheep. This raw wool is then taken through several steps to be made into fabric. After shearing, wool is then scoured, carded, combed and spun into yarn. Weaving the yarn on a loom creates the fabric.

There are different weights and textures. One downside to wool is that it’s itchy and some people are allergic to this timeless fabric. Finer wools are usually less itchy. Overall, wool mixed with other fabrics, such as cotton, are not as warm as full wool fabrics. Lightweight and strong, garments made from this fabric are very durable.

Flannel
Flannel is a really fun fabric. There’s a huge variety of colorful patterns to choose from and it’s quite fashionable now. Flannel is generally categorized as a soft woven fabric. This fabric can come in various degrees of fineness, brushed to create a super soft texture. Flannel patterns are called tartar and were made popular in the US by Hamilton Carhartt, the founder of Carhartt clothing in 1889. One of the characteristics of this natural fiber is it traps air, which in turn traps heat. It is usually made from either wool, cotton, or Scots pine fibre. Yes, flannel can also be manufactured from synthetic fabrics, but natural is a preferred choice of consumers.

Cotton
Cotton is a soft, breathable fabric with a long history. Its fiber is spun into yarn or thread. This fabric can be made thick to keep in warmth during the winter and thin during the summer. Being an allergy friendly fabric, it’s comfortable for any age or garment type. Unfortunately, cotton does absorb moisture, so it is advisable to wear another fabric over it depending on weather forecast. It is however, not the most durable of fabrics and it can trap moisture.

JQ Designs has a wonderful variety of natural fabrics to choose from for promotional apparel. Which ever fabric you choose, it's guaranteed that we will make your logo look good! Questions? We're looking forward to hearing from you. Dial 847-742-4880 and ask for Janet.