How to source items by fabric type?

[Bob B]

Hey :)

Let’s say I have an item w/ fantastic fabric, but the cut/style/whatever is off. Is there a way that I can source other items that are made from the same fabric?

For example, the prAna Coldstream Hoodie is super comfy but I can’t deal w/ the crazy hood. It’s advertised as using “Polartec® micro-grid knit fabric”, which is more info than one usually gets, but still vague. How might I determine the exact fabric and/or find other hoodies that use the same exact fabric?

p.s. THANK YOU to all you fabric nerds who keep me comfy out there! i’ve learned A LOT from y’all!!!

[Paul McLaughlin]

Manufactuers of garments often use terminology to describe a fabric that is either slightly vague or not precisely how the fabric manufacturer describes it. Because of tha t it can be tough to identify the same fabric being used by another garment maker. Even if you can get one maker to identify the fabric they are using by precisely the fabric manufactuer`s nomenclature, you may not get some other maker to be as clear. Sometimes the only way is to get your hands on the garments. But you might try looking at the Polartec website, as the descriptions they use may be helpful in interpreting the garment makers descriptions. Also, asking the garment maker for weight per squre yard of fabric might be useful if Polartec has weights on their website.

[Bill Budney]

Look at Polartec Power Dry (and Power Grid). Mill Yardage “Base Collection 1” or “Intro to Polartec” swatch packs may help you find something similar to what you are looking for.

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