Chambray

Smooth, lightweight fabric with a denim look

Despite its visual similarities to denim, chambray is woven very differently. While denim is woven in a twill weave, chambray uses a plain weave. This means that the fabric looks the same on both sides, whereas the inside of denim is lighter than the outside. The plain weave also makes chambray smooth, which contributes to the physical comfort of clothing made from it. Furthermore, the fabric is considerably lighter and less stiff than denim. The typical two-tone appearance of chambray is created by using two different colored yarns to weave the fabric: usually blue yarn for the warp and white yarn for the weft.

Chambray is a fabric that has been estimated to have been made for about 700 years, but the composition is different nowadays. In the past, the fabric was usually woven from linen, but it is now possible to weave chambray from cotton or synthetic fibers. The chambray fabrics in our collection are all made entirely of cotton or viscose. But the fabrics have the same benefits: they drape well, require almost no maintenance, and offer a denim look with a lighter weight. While denim is often too heavy to make blouses, shirts, and tops, chambray is perfect for that purpose.

Chambray is suitable for summer clothing because the fabric breathes very well. This applies to both cotton chambray and viscose chambray. Someone who wears clothing made of chambray will stay cool and not suffer from excessive sweating. Denim, for example, breathes a lot less well. The breathable nature of the fabric, combined with how smoothly it moves, has made chambray widely used for workwear. But the fabric is equally suitable for trendy casual wear. An additional advantage is that the material is relatively easy to work with.

A beloved clothing fabric for centuries

There is some uncertainty about the origin of chambray. The name clearly refers to the Northern French town of Cambrai, a few dozen kilometres from the border with Belgium. In Flemish, this place is called Kamerijk, which is why the fabric was formerly known in the Netherlands as "kambrik" or "kamerdoek." According to various stories, the fabric was invented around 1300 by a weaver named Baptiste, which is where the fabric's other name "batiste" comes from. Although it is certainly possible that this story of the origin is true, no evidence has been found to this day.

It is incontrovertibly proven that chambray has been appreciated for centuries for its suitability for making clothes. In the 16th century, a lot was written about the fabric. Allegedly, the fabric was so popular that the English King Henry VIII bought a lot of it to clothe his army. In the United States, the fabric became extremely popular for work clothing. Initially, the navy in the 19th century wore chambray shirts, but later the shirts became symbolic of the working classes. Today, the term "blue collar" still refers to the shirts of American manual workers.

In Dutch, the term "verpleegsterslinnen" is sometimes used to refer to the fabric. Nurses in the first half of the 20th century often wore chambray dresses, although it is unlikely that they were actually made of linen. They almost certainly wore the cotton variant. In the second half of the previous century, chambray became increasingly popular as a fashion fabric. Shirts, blouses, and tops made from the fabric combine excellently with jeans or denim skirts. And, as with other clothing with a denim look, they never really go out of fashion. In addition, chambray is a beautiful fabric for bedding.

Tips for making clothing from chambray

Before making clothing from chambray, it is advisable to wash the fabric first. Natural fibers are known to shrink up to around 10 percent in the first wash, so the cotton variant should definitely be washed before it is sewn. However, viscose can also shrink 3-5 percent in the wash. The fabrics can be machine washed at a maximum of 30 degrees. Ideally, do not put the fabrics in the dryer; they will remain crisper if air-dried. Chambray is not crease-free but can be ironed well at low temperatures.

Sewing chambray is not difficult. This can be done with straight stitches. Since the material is relatively thin, a fine universal needle with a thickness of 70-75 or a microtex needle is sufficient to sew the fabric. Another advantage of such needles is that they do not leave large holes in the material. If the fabric stretches somewhat, use a stretch needle and an anti-slip mat. Chambray is easy to cut and trim, but the fabric can fray at the edges. In addition to a wide range of fabrics, we have various haberdashery items to neatly finish those frayed edges.

Buying chambray online

With its similarity to denim, chambray can be used for clothing that always looks fashionable. But the fabric is not only appreciated for its appearance. Chambray is a flexible, breathable fabric, which makes clothing made from it particularly comfortable. These and many other beautiful clothing fabrics are available for purchase online at Quality Textiles. You can also order real denim from us to make beautiful jeans, and denim jackets and skirts.