What is wool flannel

Textile traders soon brought the fabric over to England and France. More advanced textile mills were able to produce materials quicker, and at a fraction of the cost. This meant mass-produced flannels that were becoming popular among the working class for their tough, warm qualities. Then, in , Hamilton Carhartt founded his namesake company. His clothing was made specifically for the working class. His idea was to provide them with a top quality product, which would meet his standard of excellence he wanted his garments to reflect.

Flannel fit the bill; and Carhartt can be largely credited for popularizing the fabric in the United States. The United States Army issued soldiers flannel shirts during both World Wars, as an added layer of warmth. Rather than using it for an additional layer of warmth, soldiers began wearing it as a casual wear.

Featuring a cargo style design for utility purposes, the extra pockets starting gaining popularity among outdoors-centric individuals. Softness and comfort with added functionality allowed for the once working class attire to expand interest towards everyday outdoorsmen over the decades that followed. That tightly-woven wool fabric was then napped to expose the ends of the fibers, giving the resulting material a hairy texture.

This process adds warmth by creating loft that traps air, makes the fabric softer, and increases moisture wicking. You see, wool is something of a wonder material. You may think of wool as water-resistant, because you can often see rain bead up and run off its surface. The inside of wool fiber is actually hydrophilic , meaning it attracts and absorbs water molecules. Splash a bucket of water on a proper flannel shirt and it stays dry. Something even cooler happens when water vapor gets inside wool.

There, H2O molecules bind to the microscopic structure of the fibers, breaking the bond between the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a chemical process that actually produces a tangible amount of heat.

Because the natural crimp of its fibers traps pockets of air within a tightly woven fabric, wool is a good insulator. Unlike other materials, that process takes place not just through tiny holes in the fabric, but through the wool fibers themselves.

This makes the material exceptionally breathable. Wool is also naturally antimicrobial, thanks to the lanolin wax that occurs in its fibers, which kills bacteria it comes into contact with.

That means you can wash garments made from wool far less often, which is part of why garments made from it are so long-lasting. Some properties of wool have been replicated by cheaper synthetic materials, but no single synthetic fiber can achieve all the things wool can, nor is any synthetic fiber used in clothing as durable as wool.

Cotton fibers work in almost the opposite fashion as wool, absorbing vast quantities of water, holding onto it, then exposing the wearer's skin to that moisture. Cotton, for instance, has been blamed for deaths caused by hypothermia in cold weather and feels clammy and gross in hot weather.

To suggest that other materials can work as well, by giving them that name, is dangerously misleading. Allow me to provide some more appropriate guidance. Next, the textile yarn is spun in much the same way that other fabric yarn is constructed. A twill or plain weave is usually used to make flannel, and the woven fabric may be napped on one or both sides to create a soft texture that hides the weave.

Napping is a process that distresses the spun fiber and makes it take on the appearance of unspun fiber. Naturally, the fiber stays together since it has been woven into a matrix, but napping does decrease the durability of fabric somewhat.

Synthetic flannel is often provided with a flame-retardant coating that may be toxic. Wool is naturally flame-resistant, and any number of treatments may be applied to cotton flannel. The plaid flannel button-down is iconic of the outdoors lifestyle, and this look has been repeated countless times with fabrics other than the original wool.

In addition to shirts, flannel is often used in sweaters, cardigans, and other cold-weather layering garments. Essentially, any cotton, wool, or synthetic garment that has been napped on one or both sides can be considered to be flannel. Further distinctions are generally only made by professionals in the apparel or textile industries.

Due to its association with plaid, many decor items and other homewares feature flannel napping. This fabric type is especially popular in bedsheets; many consumers prefer flannel sheets during the winter due to their increased softness, moisture wicking, and perceived coziness. This country has long been a major textile producer, but it has recently supplanted its main competitor, China, in certain natural textile categories.

The title of largest synthetic textile manufacturer goes to China. Cotton is often more expensive than polyester or other textiles used to make flannel. High-grade wool costs more than either, so take the nature of your fabric into consideration as you work out pricing.

Some flannel weavers are masters of their craft, and other factories mass-produce cheap bolts of sub-par fabric. Companies that focus on sustainability and organic, natural fibers are also, as a general rule, more likely to create high-quality flannel fabric.

Welsh flannel was traditionally made from wool, and most European flannel types are also woolen. Until recent centuries, cotton was not as commonly used in Europe since it was primarily produced in India. Cotton flannel became more popular during the Colonial expansionist period, and this material remains highly sought after for soft, rich flannel garments or bedsheets with napping on both sides.

Many types of flannel on the market today are made with synthetic materials like polyester or nylon instead of natural fibers. Artificial textiles are more flammable, and they are harder on the environment. This flannel is napped on both sides and prized for its fineness. It can be made from any material that is usually used to make flannel, but wool and cotton provide the softests textures against sensitive baby skin.

This fabric is napped on both sides to aid absorbency and comfort. Briefly, a type of flannel made from cellulose became popular in Europe during the 19th century. Vegetable flannel lost favor after petrochemical-based fabrics became available in the 20th century. Flannelette is woven slightly differently than true flannel, which may result in a coarser texture.

It can be made with any of the materials commonly used to weave flannel. There are a few factors that come into play when determining the environmental impact of flannel:. Cotton pollutes less than synthetic textiles, but wool pollutes the least of all. Avoid perpetuating the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides by choosing natural fabrics that were produced with sustainable and organic practices.

Depending on the dyes and other treatments used, the production of flannel fabric may have a greater or lesser negative impact on the environment. Sustainable companies that use ethical production processes are more likely to only use safe materials when making their fabric.