Learn the Basics

microfibre for sport

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). […]

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nylon stockings

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 […]

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what is canvas

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 […]

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what does bespoke mean

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 […]

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suede colour samples

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 […]

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public in denim

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 […]

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felt balls

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 […]

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neoprene wetsuits

What is Neoprene? You’ve probably come across Neoprene before without even realising. But what is Neoprene? Neoprene was the first ever successful synthetic rubber created, dating back to 1930. It can be found on tires, wetsuits, hoses, and as well as being a particularly useful material its now also made its way onto high end […]

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kimono fabric

When traditional fashion fuses with contemporary style, beautiful things can happen. At Contrado, we love creating exciting clothing, which inspires our customers to design. One of our favourite pieces of personalised clothing, is the Customised Kimono. This adaptable and beautiful piece has been designed in-house. It combines influences from the classic kimono jacket, and mixes them with […]

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fleece outerwear

What is Fleece? Fleece is a man-made wonder product, if there is such a thing. Despite being named after the ‘fleece’ coat on a sheep, it’s 100% synthetic and derived from plastic rather than a fluffy sheep’s coat – despite being fuzzy to the touch. The super soft, warm and breathable nature of this magic […]