Sexy, soft chiffon

Chiffon is a plain weave with the warp and weft threads being the same weight and woven in a basic over-under crisscross pattern giving it a  checkerboard appearance.  It is  lightweight and sheer being quite transparent and is made from silk,synthetic or cotton fibers.  It is an airy fabric making it great to wear against the skin. Chiffon fabric is usually used for evening wear, blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie but is making a big comeback for blouses this season.  Of course it is a great fabric to use for corporate scarves too!

Because the fabric is transparent seams and darts are kept to a minimum and stitching must be neat and narrow with french seams being the preferred sewing method.

Why not add some flair to your ladies corporate wear range this year and add in a chiffon item for fun!

How broad is your cloth? the benefits of Broadcloth.....

Broadcloth is densely woven, semi-soft,  plain  or twill weave fabric in made in various fibers including wool,  cotton, silk and synthetics.  It was once a very commonly used fabric for clothing.  Today is is used for upmarket ranges by top designers due to the cost of the fabric.  The fabric has a lovely drape and can be used for dresses that are a lot cooler to wear than a polyester version.

Broadcloth is great for shirts, casual wear, children's clothes, shirts, sheeting.  The 65/35% poly cotton in 110gsm is really popular for shirts and is crease resistant making for less ironing!  It comes in a variety of colours to match your corporate identity.  

Give us a call today for your bespoke broadcloth shirts!

To Twill or not to twill....that is the question!

In a twill weave fabric the weft and warp are offset to give a diagonal pattern on the fabric surface.

 The resulting fabric is tough and hard wearing yet soft and comfortable on the body.  It drapes well and as such is used for chino's, jackets, caps, work-wear  as well as curtains.

In a fancier version it can be woven into a herringbone weave  for use in suiting as shown below.

At Neo CCS it is our favourite fabric to be used on 100% cotton brushed or non-brushed cotton twill caps, chino's, aprons, even windbreakers  for upmarket promotional events!  A poly cotton version of the fabric is available for companies whose staff spend a lot of time outdoors e.g. security guards, to avoid excessive fading which may occur with ongoing exposure to ultra violet light that occurs with natural fibres like cotton.  Give us a call today so we can advise you on what is best for your needs.

An Oxford degree anyone?

Sew....why are Oxford shirts  a popular corporate clothing option?  Well, the open weave 100% cotton shirt means that the shirt is breathable, making them a good choice for South African summers not to mention the durability of the fabric making it just as effective to wear in winter together with a cardi or V-neck jersey..

Oxford cloth is traditionally woven using a basket weave technique often using two slightly different but tone on tone yarns giving the fabric its distinctive but subtle marl pattern. (see close up below).

Oxford shirts were first used in playing Polo and was considered a staple part of the game pre 1930's.  They were also used as formal wear with a Jacket.  One shirt - two identities both casual and formal and the fabric works well in both environments. The shirt went through a second re-birth being used by the preppy Ivy League students worn un-tucked with shorts and loafers in the 1950's.

It is thought that the Oxford weave originated in a Scottish mill which constructed four new fabric weaves around the late 1800's naming each one after the four prestigious Universities: Harvard, Yale, Cambridge and, of course, Oxford.

Variations of the cloth include plain Oxford, the Pinpoint Oxford and the more formal Royal Oxford.
It incorporated a heavy basket weave texture with strong white overtones on a coloured background.
Basket weave is a variation of the plain weave. In this, two or more warps yarns cross alternately side-by-side with two or more weft yarns. This type of weave resembles a plaited basket.
In Royal Oxford the warp has two fine yarns paired together. The weft has one heavier, softly spun fill yarn, which gives the fabric a very subtle basketweave look with a silk-like and lustrous finish.



A more recent use of the fabric has been to use it around the home for window treatments, duvet covers and pillow cases as the fabric is machine washable and easy to maintain as it tends to hold its shape very well requiring little to no ironing. 

At Neo we love using this fabric to make our stunning Oxford shirts for both men and ladies!

Barra what? Sew what is so special about Barrathea?

Sew what is so special about Barrathea?

All fabrics are created by various types of weaves  which are made up from Warp and Weft ‘yarns’. Warp ‘yarns’ run along the length of the material, whilst weft ‘yarns’ run across the width of the material. It is the variations  of interlacing the warp and weft ‘yarns’ that create a particular type of weave as is the case in Barrathea.

Barathea was originally created in England for use in mourning cloth.  Barathea generally uses a worsted ‘yarn’ woven with a twill hopsack or broken rib weave. The fabric has a fine texture and a matt finish  with a slightly pebbled effect and faint regular twill lines running in opposite directions. It is used in many forms of formal wear including bow ties and cummerbunds and covers various combinations of wool, silk and cotton yarns.

Worsted barathea which is made with a smooth wool yarn is mostly used for evening coats, dinner jackets, dress coats and even finds itself being used for military step out uniforms.  Silk barathea is used for making high quality neckties.

Great for good quality doormen suits for upmarket establishments me thinks.

I spy with my little Birdseye!

Birdseye - Sew.... the term Birdseye refers to fabric with an all over  woven-in diamond shape pattern (dobby design) that generally has a center dot and resembles the eye of a bird..

The fibers used to weave this fabric are generally cotton, linen or a blend of rayon and cotton.  It characteristically has a smooth clear finish, it is soft and light weight as well as absorbent and launders very well.  It is used effectively as summer dress fabric as well as fine quality suiting for men and women.

Sew easy to wear, at Neo we would use a birdseye knit for golf shirts too!

Poplin - sew strong!

 

 

Poplin

 

The term poplin originates from another word "papelino" and was first made at Avignon in France.  The term derives from the term used for the papal residence situated there in the 15th century and from a fabric termed "papeline" made from silk in the same century.

 

Traditionally it is made of two different types of yarns woven together, one in the weft (the worsted yarn)  and the other in the warp (the silk).  It can be made of many yarns including  wool, cotton, silk and rayon. 

 

The combination of two different yarns give the fabric depth and lustre as well as stoutness making it great for work wear and even upholstery.  Shirts made from this fabric do not wrinkle easily and are easy to iron. 

 

Sew.... at NEO CCS we would use this fabric to make medical uniforms or shirts for the hospitality sector, how about you?

 

 



Fleece .....sew warm for winter!

Fleece

 Fleece is lightweight fabric with a thick, heavy fleece-like surface that keeps the wearer warm without making them feel restricted.  It can be either a pile or napped fabric in a woven or knit construction.  At Neo CCS we would use this to make warm jackets for your staff in receiving, in store or simply for a fun promotion day.  Polarfleece®  was originally developed in 1979 by Malden Mills.  It has become a popular fabric used in many applications for corporate wear.  It provides protection from extreme weather conditions without being too bulky or restrictive so it is perfect for staff who don't sit behind a desk all day!.  Remember the 2010 soccer.....I bet you had a SA flag blanket made in this fabric to help keep you warm in the stands....

Bull Denim

Sew  no jokes, there is a fabric called bull denim, it is basically the same as a normal denim minus the indigo dye that goes into making normal denim blue.  It comes in a range of colours and has increasingly been used in the manufacture of upholstery and soft furnishings.  This year it has made quite a fashion statement being used for brightly coloured jeans.  Hmm....I wonder if we should try using some of those bright colours to manufacture hard wearing brightly coloured conti suits to jazz up the work place?

Denim...

Sew .......did you know?

Clothing may maketh the man but you do have to select the correct fabric  for the right application or you will not be very comfortable! It is no use using 100% wool on a chef's jacket for instance as it wouldn't be fit for purpose......sew as a service to you our valued clients we will be posting up some info on some of the more commonly used fabrics so that you can make informed choices the next time you need uniform for your staff.

Sew....let's start with denim

Everyone has something in their wardrobe that is made from denim.  It has become a universal fabric recognized by many.  It is a really versatile fabric that is used for many types of clothing and accessories as well as home furnishings.

The fabric has a twill weave (that't the striped pattern of the material) and comes in various thicknesses eg 10oz, 12 oz.  Denim may even be made with lycra woven in for comfort .... a welcome addition, especially for jeans!

At Neo CCS we would use this fabric for denim jeans for men and women as well as rugged conti-suits to provide longevity in an industrial type factory setting.

Sew much more......bespoke and off the shelf uniform, PPE and promotional clothing

For a hands on experience that sews up all  your needs contact us or request our company profile.

Sew much more than your average corporate clothing company!