 Natural
Fabrics
Man-Made
Fabrics
Technical
Considerations
Man-made fabrics have come in and out of fashion
in different eras. Polyester made a splash
in the 1950s and 1970s. Spandex was huge in
the 1980s. And nylon had its boom in the 1990s.
It’s important to note that most man-made fabrics
are not heat resistant and may be flammable, so these
are not good considerations for restaurant employees
unless blended with a natural fabric. Blending these
fabrics with natural fabrics will bring out the best
in each one separately. It has become fairly easy
and common to mix natural and man-made fabrics. Cotton/polyester
and cotton/spandex are most common among uniforms
as the blends allow for easier care and less tailoring
for a close fit.
These fabrics usually start as a liquid and are formed
into fibers and then into fabrics. The dying process
is done when still a liquid, and most of these will
not take new color easily if at all. If a fabric
needs to be custom dyed, having these fabrics among
the content may cause some difficulty.
| Popular
Man-Made Fabrics |
| Polyester |
Resists creases
and keeps it shape. Blends of polyester
give cotton a permanent press property
and extend the wear of these blended garments.
Polyester is manufactured in many weights
including fiber-fill used in pillows and
upholstery. It melts at medium to high
temperatures. |
| Nylon |
Found in everything from
hosiery to parachutes and combat uniforms.
Nylon is stronger yet weighs less than
any other commonly used fiber. It is elastic
and resilient, non-absorbent, dries quickly,
stain resistant, and strong against chemicals
and perspiration. Since nylon melts, low
temperature iron on the wrong side if needed. |
| Rayon |
Much like cotton – it’s
strong, extremely absorbent, comes in a
variety of qualities and weights, and can
be made to resemble natural fabrics. Rayon
drapes well, and has a soft, silky hand,
but it will wrinkle easily and may stretch
when wet and shrink when washed. Like silk,
if you pre-wash rayon fabric prior to construction
of the garment, you have a washable garment.
Instead of melting, rayon will simply burn
at high temperatures and is extremely dangerous
in the kitchen or near open flames. |
| Acetate |
Not a very strong fiber
but can be woven with others to give the
luxurious look of silk without the drawbacks
of silk. Acetate does not absorb moisture
readily but dries fast and resists shrinking
and wrinkling. Acetate and alcohol will
melt this fabric, so use care with nail
polish, nail polish removers, strong chemicals,
and other items containing acetate (like
SuperGlue). |
| Acrylic |
Has the bulk and hand of
wool. Light weight and springy, this fabric
is non-allergenic, dries quickly, draws
moisture away from the body and is washable.
Acrylic does not take even a moderate amount
of heat. |
| Spandex |
An elastic-type fiber that
can be stretched many times its length
and then spring back to the original length.
Spandex is a component of many uniforms
that need to fit a variety of body shapes
snuggly such as for casino employees, cocktail
waitresses, chefs, etc. One “ingredient” of
spandex is lastex, a fiber made from Latex,
so it may cause irritation and allergic
reactions in some people sensitive to Latex. |
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