Sunday, November 8, 2009

Did you know?

What is the origin of denim?
Two of the fabrics most symbolic of American fashion - chambray and denim -are in reality French imports. A soft comfortable fabric withcontrasting colored and white yarns, chambray was first found inChambrai, France. Denim, originating in Nimes (as in "serge de Nimes"),was introduced to this country via work pants designed for the mining industry by a Mr. Levi Strauss.

How did the T-shirt get its name?
One of the earliest prototypes for the T-shirt dates to 1880, when sailorsin the U.S. Navy were issued an elbow and hip length undershirt; when laid out on flat surface, it resembled a?perfect "T".

What's the difference between cotton and linen?
Natural fibers fall into two main groups: protein fibers, which come from animals, and vegetable fibers which come from plants. The main ingredient in all vegetable fibers is cellulose, a carbohydrate found in all plant life. Both cotton and linen are vegetable fibers. Linen ismade from the flax plant, cotton is made from the cotton plant.

Why do cotton and wool shrink when you wash them?
There are two kinds of shrinkage. Progressive shrinkage occurs when the fiber itself shrinks. Wool fiber shrinks a little more each time it is washed, which is why wool is usually dry cleaned. Relaxation shrinkage is when the fabric shrinks. It is caused by the tension applied to yarns and fabrics during construction. The tension is released when the fabric is washed or steam pressed, causing it to shrink to its natural size. Most cotton fabric shrinkage occurs during the first wash.

What makes cotton wrinkle?
During wearing and cleaning, fabrics are temporarily distorted to accommodate the stress of use. If the fabric does not recover its original shape, the results are described as wrinkling. Untreated cotton fibers do not have a permanent memory. The cellulose chains in the fiber move by breaking and re-establishing hydrogen bonds. There are no natural forces to promote the cellulose chains to return to their original configuration.

Does cotton clothing have to be dry cleaned?
Cotton is easily laundered at home, but some fabrics and garments may be dry cleaned instead. Watch out for: embossed designs, loose knit weaves that snag easily, delicate embellished fabrics, linings, shoulder pads and inner construction, special finishes that come out in the wash, and garments that require professional pressing and finishing, such as starched oxford shirts.

Are cotton panties more hygienic than synthetic ones?
Man-made fabrics don't provide the same ventilation that natural fibers do. Because fungi flourish in dark, moist environments, constrictive, synthetic garments can create an ideal habitat for yeast to multiply. All-cotton underpants permit air to circulate below the waist. Due to its unique fiber structure, cotton breathes and helps remove body moisture by absorbing it and wicking it away from the skin.

How can you pack cotton clothes so that they won't get all rumpled?
Cotton knit sweaters and tee-shirts can be rolled and placed in your suitcase to prevent wrinkling. Garments made from woven cotton fabrics such as button-down shirts and trousers should first be folded along their natural creases. Then drape each garment across the suitcase so that the ends hang over the sides. Alternate putting the top of each garment on the right and left side so that the thickness remains uniform. Next, fold each item around the other, alternating the overhang from right and left sides. By following the "inter-folding" method of packing, your clothes cushion each other and are less likely to get crumpled.

Are khakis and chinos the same thing?
Once upon a time both chino and khaki were fabrics used in military uniforms; today these words are used interchangeably to refer to the tan-colored pants inspired by military looks.

Khaki is derived from a Hindu word that means "dust color." Originally, khaki referred  to a  dull yellowish brown cotton or wool uniform fabric used for its camouflage effect by the armed forces of England, France and the U.S.since the mid 19th century; in World War I, a green tint was added. Khaki work pants and jackets were adapted for sports by men and women in the 1950s and 60s.

Chino has its roots in World War I when the U.S. army purchased this durable cotton twill from China for use by soldiers in the Philippines. In the late 1950s it was adapted by men and boys for school and general wear, particularly for pants.


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