{"id":115,"date":"2019-04-24T10:57:41","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T10:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=115"},"modified":"2020-08-21T10:25:42","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T10:25:42","slug":"what-is-mesh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/what-is-mesh\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Mesh? From Fashion Statement to Medical Must-Have"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Mesh?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"tulle<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The world of fashion has seen the\npopularity of mesh garments soar within the last few years, but exactly what is\nmesh, and why are high-street stores and designers alike fawning over it? This\nsheer, soft fabric with tons of tiny holes has been loosely woven or knitted to\ncreate the signature look and structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is Mesh Made?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Mesh\u2019 itself refers to a knitted\nstructure of fibres, and is technically a barrier created from connected\nstrands. The yarns are knitted or woven together, resulting in a fabric with\nopen spaces in between the strands of yarn. Mesh isn\u2019t only used for fashion\nfabrics, and can be made from a huge range of materials depending on its\nintended use \u2013 it isn\u2019t limited to fabrics for textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Mesh Made From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"mesh<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to mesh fabric, the\nmaterial is typically made from polyester or nylon. The synthetic fibres are\nwoven to create a flexible, net-like fabric which has a huge range of uses.\nContrasting to this, mesh can also be created from metals for a sturdier and\nmore structured material, often for industrial use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nylon Vs Polyester Mesh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mesh fabric is typically made from\npolyester or nylon, and on face value these two types of mesh don\u2019t seem all\nthat different. Both synthetics can be used for similar applications, but there\nare differences between the two types of fabric. Nylon is made from polyamides,\nwhilst polyester is comprised of polyester materials and can also be made using\nplant materials. As a result, polyester is more fibrous to the touch whilst the\nfeeling of nylon resembles silk. Nylon also has more stretch to it than\npolyester. Nylon is longer-lasting than polyester, so for items that will have\na lot of wear and tear it may be the better option to go for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Mesh in Fashion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"sports<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mesh fashion isn\u2019t just a recent\ntrend; it dates all the way back to 1888, and has fluctuated in popularity ever\nsince. It began when British mill owner Lewis Haslam was out with his aunt, and\nnoticed that her gloves had a few holes in them. She replied that her hands\nwere still warm despite this, and thus the idea of mesh came to fruition.\nHaslam created the original Aertex mesh material, which was labelled as being\nhygienic and breathable despite temperature changes, and began originally\nproducing men\u2019s shirts and undergarments. In the 1980s Adidas began using\nAertex fabric for their sportswear, causing a surge in popularity both in\nsportswear and general everyday fashion. The popularity of mesh continued to\ngrow, with celebrities donning mesh vests and dresses all over MTV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Mesh Used For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Polyester or nylon fabric mesh is\ngenerally used for creating casual garments and fashionwear, such as vests,\ndresses, and other items to be layered. Mesh is still incredibly popular in\nsportswear due to it\u2019s breathability and being able to regulate temperature\nwell. Polyester mesh is also used for creating the mesh screens used in\nscreen-printing, due to it\u2019s water-resistant properties and the miniature holes\nallowing ink to pass through the fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Net mesh has a wider range of uses, and is generally used to create parts of tents and camping gear. The breathable nature of the fabric means it\u2019s perfect for regulating temperature in different weather conditions, making it ideal for camping equipment. It also prevents insects from being able to bite the skin, which is an essential for certain types of camping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One very common but perhaps\nsurprising use for mesh is in the medical industry; it has become commonplace\nin surgical procedures, and is primarily used to support organs or tissues.\nThere are two main types of surgical mesh, temporary or permanent. A temporary\nsheet will dissolve in the body over time, whereas a permanent one will remain\nin the body. The loosely woven sheet of synthetic fibres is most commonly used\nin hernia surgery, or for prolapsed organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mesh<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Properties of Different Mesh\nFabrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mesh textiles may look and feel\nsomewhat similar, but the type of fibres used to create them means they have\nvery different properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polyester Mesh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n