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Blouses are an essential item for any woman’s wardrobe whether you want a few stylish formal items for the workplace or more traditional, puffy blouses for warmer weather and summer outings. It can be difficult to choose the right garment though and this is only compounded by the wide range of fabrics used.
This includes natural fabrics like silk and cotton, and synthetic fabrics such as satin, polyester, and Rayon. If you are struggling to figure out which is the perfect fabric, I have created a simple guide on the best fabric for blouses below.
Natural Fabrics
Natural fabrics are the most popular choice for many due to their excellent qualities and superb feel but typically they result in more expensive blouses. Some of the most popular natural fabrics include:
- Silk
- Cotton
- Lace
- Wool
- Linen
Silk is soft and has a fantastic luster and is usually available in different types such as chiffon, organza, and charmeuse. Alternatively, cotton is a great all-rounder gives a natural look, and works in most weather conditions.
Lace oozes elegance and femininity and has a pleasant texture that is also breathable to reduce sweating. Wool is less common for blouses but you can get thicker wool blouses that offer excellent comfort and warmth while still being breathable.
Lastly, linen is another excellent blouse fabric and is usually considered to be a higher-quality version of cotton. It’s durable, breathable, and can easily keep out moisture.
Synthetic Fabrics
Synthetic fabrics are manufactured through chemical synthesis and mimic many of the qualities of natural fabrics but are usually easier to mass produce and are often more affordable. Popular examples of synthetic fabrics for blouses include:
- Satin
- Polyester
- Rayon
- Blends
Satin is incredibly luxurious and great if you want designer blouses for the workplace. It feels amazing, is wrinkle-resistant, and is highly durable.
Polyester is the most common synthetic fabric for blouses and has numerous qualities including its stretchiness, stain resistance, and durability.
Rayon is widely used to create vibrant blouses in a range of colors and it’s made from pure wood pulp fibers. It’s usually blended with other fabrics and can result in specific washing conditions so this is something to be aware of.
Lastly, you can find a range of blended fabrics for blouses and these typically combine a synthetic and natural fabric to benefit from both their unique properties. For example, polyester and cotton blends are common, as are cotton and linen, and linen and Rayon.
Seasonal Considerations
The best fabric for blouses can also change depending on the season and climate.
In winter, some of the lighter fabrics like Rayon, cotton, and lace may not be suitable or you may need to wear something over your blouse. This is because the fabric is thinner and doesn’t offer as much protection from the colder temperatures.
For winter, thicker blouse fabrics like wool, silk, polyester, and knit can work great and give you that extra warmth and comfort.
In contrast, these blouse fabrics become less attractive in the warmer months and this is when you want to switch to light and airy fabrics like lace, cotton, linen, Rayon, and satin. You can look fantastic without sweating too much and feeling uncomfortable.
Identifying Your Preferences
To choose the best fabric for blouses, you must consider your personal preferences too including:
- Texture
- Skin sensitivity
- Thickness
- Softness
You may prefer silky smooth textures for your clothing in which case silk and velvet are great options. Also, consider if you have sensitive skin or any skin conditions as you may not be able to wear certain blouse fabrics.
The thickness can be a personal preference too and many people don’t like thick fabrics that hang heavily on their bodies. Consider what you like to wear, and what you feel comfortable in, and you should be able to pick a suitable blouse fabric.
What do we Use at Luxeire?
At Luxeire we do things differently and offer an environmentally and sustainable alternative to traditional blouse fabrics. Working with companies like Jersey Lomellina, we have produced a range of synthetic fabrics for our blouses including:
- Renew Fine
- Renew Shine
- Renew Folk
- Renew Bubble
- Renew Waffle
These fabrics typically have a PA/Elastane blend, for example, our Renew Fine material is 83% recycled PA, and 17% elastane. The varying percentage of PA means that each fabric is slightly different in terms of finish, comfort, and stretch.
The Renew Shine, for example, is glossy, and soft to the touch, and gives our blouses an elegant style with subtle femininity. Alternatively, the Renew Waffle has a 3D patterned texture and is slightly more robust while still feeling soft.
Therefore, our versatile range of designer blouses are a brilliant choice if you want a positive environmental impact while still looking stylish and feeling great.