Mekan Textile Blog

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Notes from the mill.

Practical guides on cotton fabric weights, weaves and printing, written for the people who buy and develop textiles.

Cotton canvas tote bag Which canvas weight for a tote bag? The weight of the canvas decides whether a tote is a giveaway or a bag people keep for years. Here is how the common weights compare. Stack of folded shirts in striped, check and plain cotton fabrics Shirting fabric weights from 85 to 165 gsm Shirting runs from near-sheer voiles to substantial overshirt cloths. Here is how weight maps to the shirt, and how plain, striped and check fabrics differ. Stack of folded striped and white cotton tea towels tied with twine on a wooden stool Tea towel sizes and hems: making up panama and drill A good tea towel depends on the cloth, but also on the size, the hem and the loop. Here is how panama and drill are cut and made up. Close-up of light blue shirting fabric at a collar with dark-rimmed buttons How to request a fabric sample from Mekan Textile A clear sample request gets the right cloth to you first time. Quote the code, colour and weight, and tell us what the fabric will become. Man seated outdoors in khaki trousers and a cream shirt beside a woman in a pleated tartan skirt Choosing a trouser fabric weight for the season and cut Weight decides whether a trouser feels airy or substantial, and whether a cut hangs or holds. Match the gsm to the climate first, then to the cut. Close-up of cotton drill showing its fine diagonal weave line Workwear buyers: choosing cotton drill for uniforms Cotton drill is a common choice for uniforms because it balances strength, comfort and a clean look. Here is how a workwear buyer can judge it and specify it. Navy and white striped cotton bib apron worn over a white shirt and jeans Stain resistance on aprons and table linen: what finishes can do A finish can help an apron shed spills or a tablecloth release stains in the wash, but it cannot make cotton stain-proof. What to expect and what to specify. Women's shirt in petrol blue organic cotton shirting OP-01 Organic cotton shirting: what organic does and does not change Organic describes how the cotton was grown, not how the shirt fabric feels. Knowing the difference helps you specify and label it correctly. Stack of striped and white cotton tea towels tied with twine on a wooden stool Restricted substances in textiles: REACH and buyer lists Most textile buyers now ask for chemical compliance as well as quality. Here is what REACH covers, how buyer restricted substance lists work and what is usually tested. Close-up of a pale blue shirting collar and placket with dark-rimmed buttons over a grey striped fabric Swatch books and header cards: presenting fabrics to buyers The way a fabric is presented decides how quickly a buyer can judge it. Each sample format answers a different question, from colour to drape. Close-up of grey trousers with a buttoned flap pocket Trouser fabrics explained: cotton-lyocell and cotton-elastane Most trouser fabrics are cotton with something added. Elastane adds stretch, lyocell adds drape, and weight decides the rest. Rolls of white chef's muslin, each wrapped in clear film, packed side by side in a carton How muslin is packed for kitchens: rolls and book-folded pieces The same muslin can reach a kitchen as a small roll, a large roll or a flat folded piece. The right format depends on how the kitchen cuts and stores it.