What is Cashmere? You’ve probably seen Cashmere in high-end fashion boutiques or lavish gift shops, at the fingertips of captivated shoppers. But what is Cashmere? This sought-after fabric has become synonymous with luxury; the soft, insulating material is one of the most valuable natural products used in the fashion industry today. Cashmere is characterised by […]
What is rayon? When talking about fabrics, ‘rayon’ is not an unheard name. I am sure some of you have clothes, accessories or home-ware items made of this material. But do you know what is rayon? In a nutshell, it’s a man-made fibre and yet, it’s not hundred percent synthetic. Intrigued? Read on to find […]
What is jute? We all have used gunny sacks, rustic looking bags, curtains and several other pieces of furniture or accessory, that have a lattice-like weave and a coarse texture. Chances are that these products were made of jute. But how many of you know what is jute? It is a natural fibre derived from […]
What is microfibre? You’ve seen it everywhere; from mops to furniture, sportswear to towels – but what is microfibre, exactly? And what makes it so versatile? ‘Microfibre’ refers to a synthetic fibre which is extremely thin, even slimmer than a strand of silk (which is about a fifth of the diameter of a human hair). […]
What is Nylon? We all use umbrellas, stockings, socks, toothbrushes in our day to day lives. Most of us have also come across the term ‘nylon’ at some point or other. But have you ever stopped to consider what nylon act? How can one material be both plastic-like as in bristles and pliable as in […]
What is canvas? Canvas—it is safe to assume that most of us have come across this word at some point in our lives. Look around and you will find clothes, accessories and home décor items made of this material. As I write this blog, I am counting the number of canvas prints lining the walls […]
One of the things that we at Contrado pride ourselves on, is that we make bespoke products. But what does bespoke actually mean? Over time it has become to mean something very different than it was originally intended to. So it’s pretty unsurprising that people aren’t necessarily able to provide a definition of it when asked. We live […]
As a fashion lover, a textile designer or an avid shopper, you’ve probably come across the term ‘suede’ in various shops or fashion magazines. But what is suede exactly, and why do we use it? In a nutshell, suede is a particular finish of leather (often referred to as suede leather). Rather than being a […]
What is Denim fabric and what is it made from? Denim is a sturdy cotton twill fabric, generally used to make garments such as jeans, dungarees and other clothing. Denim is typically blue in colour, but can have a multitude of different finishes such as being stonewashed, striped, faded, napped and indigo. Today it is […]
What is Felt? Felt is a man-made fabric, created from natural fibres. Most man-made fabrics are generally woven; however, felt differs in this sense. So, what is felt exactly? A Felted fabric is created from fibres being compressed and matted, often pressed together using heat, moisture and a lot of pressure. It can take a large amount […]