For many years, gabardine fabric has been a popular choice for workwear and fashion due to its sturdy construction and close weave. Usually composed of wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers, gabardine is prized for its resilient nature and silky feel. The fabric is strong and has a subtle sheen due to its distinctive weave, which has pronounced diagonal lines on the surface. It is both fashionable and useful.
When gabardine was first created in the late 19th century by Thomas Burberry, it was primarily utilized for outerwear such as trench coats. It was perfect for inclement weather because of its water resistance and resilience to the elements. Today, gabardine is a popular material for everything from suits and pants to uniforms and even upholstery due to its versatility, which has extended its use far beyond rainwear.
Gabardine is valued for its resilience as well as its capacity to hold its shape. Because of this, it is a favored fabric for fitted clothing where fit and structure are crucial. Gabardine provides a dependable and classic choice, whether you’re searching for a fabric that can withstand regular use or one that gives your ensemble a polished appearance.
| What is Gabardine Fabric? | Where is Gabardine Fabric Used? |
| Gabardine is a tightly woven fabric, known for its durability and smooth finish. It"s typically made from wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers and has a distinct diagonal rib pattern. | Gabardine is commonly used in making suits, trousers, uniforms, and outerwear like trench coats. It"s favored for its ability to hold shape and resist wrinkles, making it ideal for formal and workwear. |
Gabardine fabric is a long-lasting, tightly woven material with a slightly diagonal texture and smooth finish. Gabardine, which was originally made of wool but is now also made of cotton, polyester, or blends, is valued for its ability to hold its shape and not wrinkle easily. This fabric’s sturdy and refined appearance makes it popular for use in suits, pants, overcoats, and uniforms. Because of its adaptability to outdoor clothing, gabardine is a popular material for trench coats and travel attire.
Type and general description
An enduring twill fabric is gabardine. Because of the specific order in which the warp and weft fibers are woven together, the front surface of the cloth has significantly more main overlaps than weft yarn. This accounts for the material’s distinctive feature, a tiny rib that angles between 60 and 70 degrees.
Originally, gabardine was woven from worsted wool (occasionally with cotton added), which had been pre-treated with wool wax or lanolin to make the finished product water-repellent. Subsequently, gabardine started to be woven from blended fibers, textured polyester, or pure cotton.
In Russia, gabardine is mostly produced in the areas surrounding Moscow and Ivanovo, as well as in Novosibirsk, Rostov, and other traditional textile hubs. Nonetheless, the majority of gabardine marketed in our nation is imported from China.
Globally, China and India are the biggest producers of this fabric. Furthermore, gabardine is made in textile factories in England, Turkey, Italy, and France, as well as in its historical homeland.
History of origin
A sort of outerwear similar to a cassock or a long, open robe for protection from the weather was called "gabardine" back in the fifteenth century in England. Originally reserved for the impoverished, the word eventually gained new meaning and is now used to describe a waterproof raincoat.
Thomas Burberry, the founder of the Burberry fashion house in Basingstoke, Hampshire, is credited with coining the term "gabardine," which today is used to describe a fabric rather than an article of clothing. He created a novel fabric in 1879, and he registered its name as a patent in 1888.
Polar explorers such as Ernest Shackleton, who led an expedition across Antarctica in 1914, and Roald Amundsen, who became the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911, both wore Burberry gabardine clothing.
Gabardine was a popular fabric in the 1950s, used to create brightly patterned suits, pants, and casual jackets.
Fabric composition and its properties
Once gabardine was no longer solely made of sheep wool, the fabric’s range of uses increased dramatically. The fabric’s appearance has also altered. It has a matte shade if it is woven from natural raw materials; however, the more synthetic materials it contains, the brighter it is.
Various compositions suggest varying material properties. However, all gabardines share three characteristics in common: water resistance, softness, and density. Each one has a diagonal pattern on the front side and is smooth on the inside. Cotton and synthetic yarn fabrics work well for printing.
Types of gabardine
Principal kinds
- All-wool – classic gabardine, very attractive and pleasant to wear.
- Half-wool – made from wool with the addition of viscose, linen, cotton or synthetics, one of the most popular materials for sewing business suits.
- Cotton – a particularly durable and lightweight material from which trousers, skirts, uniforms, etc. are sewn.
- Silk – artificial silk is used in its production, which contains polyester and viscose, most often used for sewing evening dresses and as drapery.
- Synthetic – inexpensive material made entirely of artificial fibers or with the addition of wool or viscose, ideal for sewing workwear.
- Stretch – elastic fabric, the basis of which is lycra and elastane.
- Melange – made of threads of different colors, material for sewing dresses and suits.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Durability and durability.
- Resistance to stretching and deformation under mechanical stress.
- Comfort when wearing.
- Ability to repel moisture.
- Ability to retain heat without causing steaming.
- Breathability.
- Drapability.
- Ease of care.
Cons:
- Fraying (fast loss of threads from cuts during cutting).
- Special requirements for ironing (only with a warm iron).
- The appearance of puffs with careless wear.
Standards used in the manufacture
The Russian Federation’s production of gabardine is governed by GOST 27541-87, which stipulates stringent adherence to accepted test methods, acceptance, transportation, and storage guidelines, in addition to technical requirements during production.
For instance, the state standard states that the water absorption of impregnated fabrics cannot be higher than 35%; woolen fabrics require anti-moth treatment, and semi-wool fabrics containing synthetic materials require antistatic treatment.
In the world of fashion and textiles, gabardine is a well-known, resilient fabric. Gabardine, so named because of its structure of tightly woven wool, can also be made of cotton, polyester, or a combination of fibers. It’s a popular option for tailored clothing because of its wrinkle-resistant quality and smooth finish.
This fabric, which provides comfort and a polished appearance, has been used extensively to create coats, suits, and pants. Because of its longevity, it is also perfect for workwear and uniforms, where strength and durability are crucial. The permeability and water-repelling qualities of gabardine make it a popular material for outdoor apparel and equipment.
Because of its ability to combine fashion and utility, gabardine continues to be a popular material for both high-end clothing and everyday wear. The classic characteristics of gabardine guarantee that it will be a mainstay in closets for many years to come, even as fashion changes and advances.
