Membrane fabrics for sewing clothing for hunters and fishermen

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2. What is Oxford fabric

Oxford fabric is one of the most popular in the world.
And whatever they sew from this durable and dense material! Almost everything - from men's shirts to bags, outerwear, tents, backpacks and much more. Modern Oxford is made from pure cotton, blends, and all-nylon and polyester threads.

Natural and mixed materials are widely used for sewing shirts, while synthetics are used for outerwear and accessories. Today, of course, inexpensive but proven polyurethane and polyester Oxford prevail.

What makes Oxford different from other fabrics?

The materials for Oxford are selected differently, but the method of weaving the fabric is the same. This is what makes the fabric stand out among others, and you can guess it right away. In English, this method of weaving is called basketweave ("basket weaving"), in Russian - "Panamanian weaving" or, more often, "matting".

A characteristic feature is the interlacing of warp threads and weft threads not individually, but in whole groups. The result is a relief texture of the surface, reminiscent of convex squares in a checkerboard pattern, or the surface of a wicker basket.

Thanks to this weaving technology, the fabric gains increased strength and density. But this method is also divided into two varieties.

• Royal Oxford (Royal Oxford) - in the manufacture of the fabric, thin threads from fibers of the highest quality raw materials are used. The fabric turns out dense and smooth, the matting becomes finer. This fabric is used for sewing shirts of the highest quality.
• Pinpoint - coarser and cheaper fiber is used for production. The minimum number of pure threads in the warp and weft in this matting is equal to or greater than 6. Workwear, windbreakers, bags, inexpensive men's shirts or trousers are products that are sewn from such fabric.

Features of application

The fabric is not only unique in its properties in terms of use, but also in its performance during the cutting process. Sewing from this type of fabric is quite simple:

• The fabric does not fray on cuts, the threads do not fray, the edges are perfectly processed.
• The canvas does not wrinkle, does not deform, does not stretch, so patterns can be easily made.
• In the process of stitching parts, there is no division of the threads that form the fabric.

Features of application
The products are distinguished by a lot of positive qualities that are valued in winter clothing. If you have the talent of a seamstress, you can easily model, for example, raincoats for the whole family and a walking kit for your pet.

Where did Oxford fabric come from?

The fabric's connection with the famous university town in England has not been clearly established. It is only known that it appeared in Scotland in the 19th century and over time fell in love with English, but even more American students.

The students of the famous Ivy League—the six most prestigious universities in America—Harvard, Princeton, Yale and others wore light blue Oxford cloth shirts. The peak of popularity of this fashion came in the middle of the 20th century, when the example of Americans was widely followed in Europe and Australia.

In fact, designer John Brooks introduced Oxford fabric to the fashion world in 1896. He modeled it for a button-down shirt, inspired by the outfit worn by polo players while traveling in England.

Today, not a single well-known Western clothing brand can do without the use of men's shirts and polo shirts from Oxford; representatives of all segments of the population, from princes and millionaires to students, wear them.

Advantages

The most expensive Oxford fabric is considered to be natural cotton. However, the range of its use is quite limited. Her “specialization” is summer and demi-season trousers, shirts, shorts. The material is durable, hygienic, perfectly breathable, and easy to care for. One of the disadvantages is that clothes made from natural cotton are afraid of ultraviolet rays and can fade in the sun and lose the brightness of their colors.

The features and advantages of synthetic fabrics should be discussed separately. They are the most widespread on the market and are made of nylon and polyester. They have a lot of advantages.

• High strength, elasticity, especially characteristic of nylon fabric. It is more wear-resistant than polyester.
• The ability to create products with a complex cut (also more typical for nylon fabric).
• Resistance to mechanical and chemical influences.
• Resistance to thermal effects (typical of Oxford polyester).
• Light weight.
• Resistant to dirt and staining.
• Low (compared to cotton) cost.
• Good stitchability even on household sewing machines for very thick fabric (600 d).

We will talk about key characteristics such as moisture resistance and density of Oxford fabric below.

The variety of colors of this fabric is the widest, as you can see by looking at our catalog. The most common colors are blue, black, and, of course, we can’t help but mention canvases with camouflage prints - on this material they are present almost everywhere - on workwear, jackets, tents, awnings, covers and other accessories.

Flaws

Despite a lot of advantages, almost like any other, this fabric also has its own disadvantages.

• Oxford, made from synthetic fibers and impregnated with PVC or polyurethane, exhibits poor air exchange and “does not breathe.” However, the disadvantage should be taken into account based on the purpose of the product. Obviously, if we are not talking about clothes, but, for example, about a bag, this minus will be very conditional.
• Nylon - capable of accumulating static electricity. In addition, fabric made of nylon threads (for example, tent fabric) can easily be melted and burned by an accidental spark from a fire; it is not very resistant to exposure to sunlight.
• And one more of the not critical, but disadvantages of Oxford is that in the cold the fabric hardens and, as a result, makes a characteristic “rustling” sound, for which hunters do not really like it. This is especially true for high-density Oxford (for example, 600), which can be used as a basis for workwear.

All this points to the fact that it is important to select this fabric depending on how and where it will be used.

Oxford fabrics by density

Density is one of the basic characteristics of this fabric. Depending on it, as well as on the presence of water-repellent impregnation, the areas of destination for fabric of a specific density are determined.

Density varies from 150 to 1800 den, where den (Denir) is its indicator. Thanks to its high density and moisture-proof impregnations (polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride), the fabric provides good barrier performance against wind, moisture, and other atmospheric influences.

Advantages and disadvantages

Dyuspo belongs to jacket materials due to its excellent practical and performance properties. Durability, waterproofness and lightness make this type of textile stand out among many other jacket materials.

Pros:

• strength;
• ease;
• durability;
• wind protection;
• moisture resistance;
• vapor permeability;
• large selection of color palettes;
• affordable price.

Minuses:

• the material wrinkles quite a lot;
• difficulty in cutting;
• low level of hygroscopicity and air exchange.

Impregnations for Oxford fabric

To give the fabric water-repellent properties on the inside, it is treated with polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) impregnations.

As a result of processing, a polymer film is formed on the surface of the canvas, which protects the product from rain, snow and wind. Each of these impregnations has its own characteristics.

• PVC coating generally demonstrates higher barrier properties; such a coating is also denser. However, this also has its downside: the material with this impregnation acquires quite high rigidity, it folds worse than Oxford of the same density, but impregnated with polyurethane.
• In turn, PU impregnation tolerates low temperatures well, is more elastic and does not lose its bending properties if it needs to be rolled.

Application

• What are they sewing from this material? The main direction is, of course, sportswear and outerwear: jackets, down jackets, winter suits, etc.
• In addition, the properties of the material (beauty and protection) allow it to be used in the production of strollers, chairs, carriers, and sleds.
• Dewspo is indispensable in the production of tourist equipment.
• Duspo with Peach Skin impregnation is used as upholstery for upholstered furniture.

On the topic, you can also read what kind of fabric spandex is at the link.

Products from Dewspo can be seen in the photo.

Water repellent properties

Thanks to these polymer impregnations, the fabric receives excellent moisture protection characteristics. However, they also differ, as indicated by their markings and which largely depends on the density of

The numbers that are indicated in the marking index indicate the value of the water column in millimeters that the canvas can withstand without losing its moisture-proof properties. In this case, it is not drizzle or light rain that is taken into account, but real torrential rain. For example…

• 200 to 300 mm - barrier properties are minimal; clothing with such impregnation is not designed for prolonged rainfall, but can still protect you from moisture for a short time, and will also protect you from wind or snow.
• 300–500 mm - the protective layer is such that it can provide water resistance in pouring rain only for an hour; over a longer period of time, water will saturate the fabric fibers.
• 800 mm - clothing is completely waterproof.
• 1000–3000 mm is the highest degree of protection. This fabric is used to make winter sportswear, as well as tents and awnings, which are guaranteed to provide protection from rain and wind for an indefinite period of time.

Important: Oxford fabric may be made with the addition of any fibers that require special care. Therefore, it is recommended that you carefully study the information about the product provided by the manufacturer.

Reviews

Reviews about cushion fabric:

Irina, 27 years old “I bought a down jacket made of this material with Peach Skin impregnation.” How great it looks! It feels very soft and velvety to the touch! Plus, the down jacket is not afraid of wind, rain and even dirt, which is good news, considering the weather in our region.”

Anastasia, 39 years old “My husband has a jacket made of this material. I've been wearing it for several years now and it's still like new. There has never been a time when my husband complained about the cold or came home wet. I’ll probably buy the same one for myself.”

Evgeniy, 27 years old “I go in for cycling. In bad weather, a Dewspo Bonding jacket helps out. This material does not need lining; its reverse side is soft, body-friendly knitwear. In addition, the thing is very light, which is important given my hobby.”

You might be interested in the benefits of Velsoft, read another article. Bookmark our site and be the first to read all new materials.

How to care for Oxford fabric

Oxford is a low-maintenance fabric. It is enough to follow a few simple tips to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.

It should be noted that if a stain suddenly appears on the fabric, it is not necessary to wash the entire product at once - thanks to water-repellent impregnations and the special weave of fibers, dirt will not penetrate deep into the structure - to remove the stain, as a rule, a damp sponge or running water is sufficient.

• The material can be washed either manually or in a machine at a temperature of 30-40 degrees (regardless of density), and automatic rinsing is also possible.
• Cotton Oxford can also be washed at temperatures up to 40 degrees.
• It is advisable to use liquid detergents when washing.
• Products made from Oxford can be dried in a drying chamber, also at a low temperature.
• You can iron at a temperature not exceeding 110 degrees Celsius. It is not recommended to iron nylon fabric (remember its fear of high temperatures), and this procedure is usually not necessary, since, unlike cotton, it practically does not wrinkle.
• It is advisable not to keep canvases made of this fabric for long in the sun, since the colors may lose their original saturation over time.

Care

The main thing in caring for this material is to preserve its protective properties. And this is what is required for this:

• Wash in water no hotter than 40 degrees
• Do not use cleaning products with chlorine
• Read the label on the product carefully. We can only give general recommendations, but the label contains instructions for a specific item

Marking examples

For clarity, here are some typical examples of Oxford fabric markings.

• PU is a product impregnated with polyurethane.
• PVC - PVC coated fabric.
• 300 d PVC PU - means that the material is impregnated with a hybrid composition of polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane. It is used when they want to improve the characteristics of the fabric - remove electrostaticity, increase thermal insulation properties, and ensure resistance to fire and chemicals.
• RS (rip-stop) is a fabric with a special weave: a thickened thread is woven into the main body of fabric, which increases tensile strength.

If Oxford made from natural cotton was used when sewing clothes, you will find the label “100% cotton”.

Production Features

The raw material from which this synthetic is obtained is the polymer alloy polyethylene terephthalate.

The processing method for the initial element is extrusion. That is, the fiber is pressed through filters and cooled. Then it undergoes heat treatment, followed by mechanical treatment (drawing and cutting or tearing with a staple).

The output may be canvases with certain properties. The variability is explained by different temperature and other processing conditions.

The production process is not entirely environmentally friendly. Scientists prove that the material is safe for humans.