Corduroy

From workwear to beloved fashion fabric

Corduroy is no longer used much for workwear today because there are now synthetic fabrics that are even harder wearing. However, corduroy has not fallen into disuse, as is usually the case when more resilient alternatives for workwear are developed. This is mainly because the fashion industry discovered the other advantages of the fabric in the 1960s. In addition to being tear-resistant, corduroy is also soft, comfortable, and stylish. Initially, it was mainly fashionable trousers, blazers, and jackets that were made from the fabric. Now, there is almost a corduroy variant for every type of clothing.

Although a lot of fashion for adults is made from the fabric, corduroy is particularly one of the most popular children's fabrics. The fabric is not stretchy, but it does give slightly, which is particularly beneficial for active children. Parents who let their children play outside wearing corduroy pants, a skirt, or dress do not have to worry about the clothes tearing. Corduroy is tear-resistant and wear-resistant. Children will usually outgrow corduroy clothing before it wears out. A finer variant of corduroy is often used for children's clothing, with narrower ribs. Fine corduroy is also ideal for blouses.

Originally, corduroy was mostly made from cotton. In our range, you can find corduroy that contains  polyester fibers. These fabrics are more colorfast than cotton corduroy. Furthermore, polyester keeps the wearer warm. We also offer corduroy that contains a small amount of elastic fabric such as Spandex or elastane. For someone who is active, these fabrics are ideal because, unlike corduroy made entirely of cotton and polyester, they can stretch. Knitted corduroy stretches more than woven corduroy.

The versatility of corduroy

For a long time, corduroy was known in Dutch and many other European languages as Manchester. The fabric was developed in the English city in the 19th century. The concept underlying the fabric was based on a thick woven textile from ancient Egypt known as "fustian", named after the city of Al-Fustat. However, fustian did not have the long ribs that corduroy has. As a result, the corduroy was very strong and durable. This led to the material being widely used to make workwear for factory workers. Some military uniforms were also made of corduroy.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of corduroy declined until the qualities of the material as a fashion fabric were discovered in the 1960s. The then British Minister of Trade, Edward Heath, even claimed at the time that The Beatles had saved the British corduroy industry. The fabric became increasingly popular as a symbol of the working classes and resistance to the established order in the 1970s. Later, it became a fabric that was mainly used for clothing having a somewhat chic appearance. The soft, velvety appearance of the fabric certainly contributed to this.

Now that we're in a new century, corduroy is still a fabric that is widely used. In fact, the fabric is more versatile than ever. As mentioned, fine corduroy with narrow ribs is widely used for clothing that needs to drape more smoothly than traditional Manchester clothing. Corduroy with very wide, coarse ribs is a popular upholstery fabric. Sofas, chairs, and cushions made from this type of ribbed fabric often seem to crop up in interior design magazines. Furthermore, the softest types of corduroy are used to make many types of soft cuddly toys. Corduroy is a versatile material.

Sewing, washing, and drying ribbed fabric

If you're making clothing from ribbed fabric that contains cotton fibers, it's wise to wash the fabric before you start working with it. Cotton is a natural product and it's known to shrink by up to about 10% when it's washed for the first time. It's better for this to happen before you start cutting or sewing the material. One advantage is that the fabric can be machine washed. Wash it at a maximum of 30 degrees to maintain the soft, velvety feel of the fabric. After washing, it's best to let it air dry.

Cutting corduroy is very easy, but needs to be done carefully. You should always cut the fabric against the direction of the nap. This is so that the colors look uniform. It's also important that all the pieces of clothing are cut in the same direction. Otherwise, there will be a color difference. The type of needle you use for sewing corduroy depends on the type of ribbed fabric. A universal needle is sufficient for fine corduroy with narrow ribs. For thicker, stiffer corduroy, a needle with a thickness of at least 90 is usually required.

Buying corduroy online

Corduroy is such a versatile fabric that it can be used for almost any type of clothing or upholstery. For children's clothing, the material is ideal because it doesn't tear easily and is very durable. Quality Textiles stocks a variety of corduroy fabrics in a range of colors. This makes it very easy to order ribbed fabric online. The edges of the fabric can fray if they're not finished. However, we have a wide range of haberdashery items suitable for finishing.