Yes, we all know what cotton is. But have you ever seen a t-shirt or pair of jeans that boasts “heavyweight cotton” as its fabric and wondered what exactly that means? What is heavyweight cotton?
Heavyweight cotton, as the name would suggest, is denser and heavier than other cotton materials, and creates a more durable, sturdy product. Cotton is measured in ounces per square yard, and heavyweight cotton is usually 12 ounces or heavier.
But it is important to understand that there are many different types of cotton. Although, in general, heavyweight cotton is 12 ounces or heavier, each type of cotton can have its own heavyweight version.
For example, t-shirts are often made with cotton jersey, which is a lighter-weight cotton. But you can still buy “heavyweight cotton jersey”. Although cotton jersey in its heaviest form is still a lightweight cotton, that heavier version of cotton jersey will often be referred to as “heavyweight cotton jersey”.
Here’s what is considered to be heavyweight cotton for some of the most popular types of cotton commonly used in clothing:
In this article let’s take a closer look at heavyweight cotton to discuss what types of garments use this type of cotton, and what the pros and cons are for using it.
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Qualities of Heavyweight Cotton Fabric
The amount of cotton that goes into clothing makes a lot of difference. Not only are there differences in the feel but also in the looks and uses. The heavier in weight the cotton, the stronger and more durable it will be.
For workwear, it is important to have something that is tough enough to handle a job site. With heavyweight cotton fabric, you get the following:
A More Structured Fit: Heavyweight cotton clothing has a much more structured look. With lightweight cotton fabric, you may see it blow easily in the wind. Something sturdier, like heavyweight cotton duck canvas won’t be blowing in the wind. If it is, prepare for liftoff. For example, here are my 12-ounce cotton canvas pants. They almost look stiff:
More Durability: Normal cotton is created with fewer threads of cotton fused together. Heavyweight cotton has many more threads for an overall heftier construction. These threads are weaved all together for a sturdier feel and a longer-lasting lifetime for the fabric. Cotton canvas is often used in workwear, and has a durable, coarse appearance:
More Warmth: Lighter cotton fabrics are breathable and porous, allowing air to flow through to keep you cool. Heavyweight cotton is better for colder weather, adding an extra layer of protection from the cold. Certain types of sturdier cotton can also offer added protection from moisture.
Types of Heavyweight Cotton Fabrics
As we discussed, even lightweight version of cotton, like cotton jersey, can have their own heavyweight version. But if you are discussing a true heavyweight form of cotton, that weighs 12 ounces per square yard or more, these are the types to know:
Canvas: A heavyweight cotton (usually 12 ounces) that is used to make very durable work jackets, pants, and coveralls. Lighter weight versions of cotton canvas will weigh 7-8 ounces, and will be used in work shirts and also for summer work pants. A very great choice when needing something that’s sturdy.
Corduroy: This hardwearing, medium-to heavyweight cotton texture is also known as cord, needlecord, and baby cord. The ribs (cords) and the quantity of strings per inch is known as the wale, with the texture generally changing from 4-wale (wide) to 21-wale (thin needlecord). Frequently utilized in the making of pants, dresses, skirts, shirts and other casualwear.
Denim: A fabric that practically everyone knows, this strong, hearty, substantial weight cotton texture is thickly woven, utilizing a twill weave. Heavyweight denim usually weighs 16 ounces or heavier.
Pros and Cons of Heavyweight Cotton Fabric
Tough jobs are rough on clothes and may have you on your knees, working with tools and materials, or dealing with all kinds of weather. Because the fibers of heavyweight cotton are knitted closely together, it is often used to make durable workwear.
For the job, cotton duck canvas is the most frequently used type of cotton. Canvas is a firm, heavy plain weave fabric and will feel rough when you run your hand across it.
But heavyweight cotton isn’t right for all situations. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of heavyweight cotton.
Pros of Heavyweight Cotton
Long-Lasting: When you make the transition to heavyweight cotton, you will notice the difference in the duration of your clothes. You will not have to constantly run to the store to replace your work clothes. Instead, you can wash them multiple times and dry them until there is no moisture left.
It Does Not Tear Easy: Another plus is the fact that heavyweight cotton is tough. If your work usually wears out other fabrics and you find that you get holes in your clothes, make the switch to heavyweight cotton. Because the fibers are woven tightly and very close, you will not have tears so easily.
Say Goodbye to Wrinkles: Your job might not require you to look nice and neat all the time. Even if it does not, you still may want to keep up your appearance for your own reasons. With other fabrics that are loose and tight, wrinkles come about easily, but with heavyweight cotton, you never have to worry about this being a problem.
Warmth – Heavyweight cotton is heavier and denser, and does a better job at trapping heat. Some heavyweight cotton fabrics, like canvas, can even offer some water resistance and protection from light precipitation. An insulated canvas work pant can be a great option for winter.
Cons of Heavyweight Cotton
It Is Heavy: Yeah, you will know it’s there. Put on a pair of reinforced heavyweight cotton canvas pants, and you won’t feel like going out for a jog. All things considered, this is a minor annoyance, but it does exist. If you are constantly on the move while working, you may want to go with a lighter blend.
It Is Stiff: Heavyweight cotton canvas in workwear will feel very stiff off the rack. The break in period will be weeks, and to be completely honest, it can feel uncomfortable in the beginning. PRO TIP: To skip the stiffness, buy heavyweight cotton canvas that is pre-washed to break it in (sometimes referred to as Sandstone Duck).
It Can Be Expensive: The more cotton that goes into clothing, the more expensive it is. Cotton is a commodity that is high in demand all around the world. Plus, because it is of great quality and lasts a long time, it is considered an investment. You will notice that heavyweight cotton items cost much more.
Warmth: Yes, this was a pro, but it is also a con. Heavyweight cotton won’t be a great summer option. This can be a problem if your job demands a durable pant. For me, I opt for a lightweight canvas in the summer. To read more, visit our article about the best summer work pants.
Heavyweight Cotton is Great for Workwear
Heavyweight cotton is great for many reasons, but its durability and toughness make it almost essential for those of us who need something that can stand up to a tough work environment.
Heavyweight cotton stands the test of time and stays solid for years and years. Its tight-knitted threads help create a strong feel and powerful hold. For heavy-duty options, visit our articles below:
Best Heavy Duty Work Shorts
Best Heavy Duty Work Shirts
Best Heavy Duty Work Pants
Though it might cost a bit more than your average fabrics, it is worth the investment. Just beware, it may feel stiff at first, and doesn’t make for the best summer workwear.
The more strands of cotton fused, the more durable the fabric will be. More threads are used in the manufacturing of heavyweight cotton, which results in a thicker fabric. For a more durable and long-lasting fabric, these threads are woven together.
Compared to Ultra Cotton, Heavy Cotton's 5.3 oz. is a little lighter than Ultra Cotton's 6.0 oz. Ultra Cotton is also a slightly softer material, because the cotton is thicker and heavier and spun tighter. Even their labels are different!
Heavier shirts (in the 5.5oz - 6.1oz range) are more durable and warmer - if that's what you're going for in a t-shirt. Some people would just as soon have a shirt that keeps them cool, and not everyone cares that their shirts be as resistant to snags or tears.
Medium Weight: 0.009″ Medium Heavyweight: 0.010″-0.011″ Heavyweight: 0.012″-0.014″ Very Heavyweight: 0.015″ Although, as a general rule, you can assume that fabric thickness and weight correspond to fabric weave type, there are some exceptions due to the specific threads used in each fabric.
Does 100% cotton shrink? In a word, yes. It's absolutely normal for clothes made from 100% cotton to shrink, especially if they haven't been pre-shrunk. Pre-shrunk cotton will generally only shrink 2-5%.
For reference, your standard t-shirt (such as tees like the Next Level 3600 or Bella + Canvas 3001) weighs approximately 3.7 to 4.3 oz, making a heavy t-shirt almost like wearing a shirt and a half. Heavyweight t-shirts are typically just sewn with heavier cotton, giving them added weight.
Pima is considered the finest cotton on earth. As an extra-long staple (ESL) cotton, its long fibers make it extra soft and extra strong. The result? Luxuriously smooth fabric that is resistant to fraying, tearing, pilling, wrinkling, and fading.
Supima cotton is a high-quality type of cotton that is made from Gossypium barbadense . It is considered to be one of the softest and strongest forms of cotton in the world, and the methods of production and certification that are used for Supima cotton are different than those used for Pima cotton.
Yes, cotton can shrink after washing it. Like linen, hemp and other textiles loomed from natural plant fibers, the yarns or threads sometimes contract when wet and dried. That said, you can usually prevent cotton from shrinking with proper care.
So remember that 100% cotton shirts may not last as long as 50/50 blends, but they are softer and much more breathable, allowing for proper perspiration evaporation. They also do not shrink as much as they used to.
Polyethylene is lightweight, high-strength oriented-strand gels spun through a spinneret and can yield strengths as high as 2.4 GPa. To sum it all, polyethylene is the strongest fabric today.
"Ounce" isn't referring to the weight of the bag, it's referring to the weight of the cotton that's used to make the bag. The proper unit for measuring fabric weight in this case isn't an ounce, but an ounce per square yard.
To prevent the clothing from shrinking, wash your cotton clothing on a delicate cycle and in cold water. This will reduce the risk of excessive friction and agitation, which can not only cause shrinking but also pilling and other unwanted wear.
Whether your clothing is crafted from 100% cotton or a premium cotton blend, you should know that any clothing that contains cotton can shrink when subjected to high heat. To prevent shrinking, you should use appropriate protocols, i.e., cold water, delicate wash cycles, and low dryer settings.
You can put 100% cotton fabrics in the dryer but they may shrink and become very creased. 100% cotton can easily be permanently damaged or melt under high temperatures in the dryer. It's best to use lower temperatures and a gentle tumbling cycle if you want to preserve your clothes and wear them for longer.
Cotton, linen, and other light, natural fabrics are good choices. If you sweat a lot, natural fabrics can also help cool you down and prevent sweat stains. While lighter fabrics are generally preferable, keep in mind you still want your clothes to give your body definition.
When it comes to fashion, premium means of the highest quality. And unfortunately, much of what's available is not truly premium. High price doesn't always mean high value, especially when most of the costs aren't mentioned on the price tag.
When you look at the numbers, large is the most common shirt size. In fact, it accounts for about 30 percent of shirt sales. Coming in at 28 percent, the size medium is a close runner-up and extra large is next at 20 percent.
Egyptian cotton can handle wash temperature of up to 40 degree Celsius while Pima cotton can be washed to 60 degree Celsius. The Egyptian cotton touch is tremendously soft and smooth while Pima is just as soft boasting a high absorbency rate.
Egyptian cotton is hand picked which guarantees the highest levels of purity. In addition, hand picking puts no stress on the fibres - as opposed to mechanical picking - leaving the fibres straight and intact. All these factors have resulted in Egyptian cotton being by far the best cotton in the world.
Heavy cotton Gildan t-shirts are the most popular option for designing custom apparel. This t-shirt material is 9 oz.and made from 100% pre-shrunk cotton. It's classified as the perfect “mid-weight” tee because of its sturdy and tight knit feel.
ELS cottons, such as Sea Island, Indian Suvin and Egyptian Giza 45, are considered the most luxurious, making them highly prized and the most expensive of all the cottons.
Egyptian cotton is stronger than regular cotton, therefore longer-lasting. It's partly thanks to the extra-long fibres that Egyptian cotton plants produce, making yarns tougher yet oh so soft.
Supima is twice as strong as regular cotton, which makes for extraordinarily resilient products. The longer fiber resists pulling, breaking and tearing, resulting in fashion and home products that are incredibly resilient and keep their form for a longer-lasting product.
Cotton can be washed on just about any cycle. Normal works well for most garments and linens. Opt for the gentle cycle, or wash by hand if the cotton garment is made of lace or embellished. Washer cycles can run from 10 to 45 minutes depending on the cycle chosen and the size of the washer.
Washing 100% cotton with cold water can cause shrinkage so if you want the cotton to be shrunk deliberately use cold water otherwise normal water is the best. While washing cotton in the machine, a gentle cycle and chemical-free detergents are recommended.
Breathable, absorbent of moisture, chemical-free, durable and woven from the softest fibres, 100% cotton is a fabric which offers luxury and comfort throughout your home.
Cotton is more breathable than polyester and also extremely hypoallergenic. Those with sensitive skin tolerate 100 per cent cotton better than polyester. With organic products becoming increasingly popular, you can find cotton fabric made with very little chemical processing.
While 100% cotton is oftentimes the better choice, it's worth considering all of the benefits of a 50% cotton 50% polyester blend before making your decision. A 50/50 blend offers many of the same advantages of 100% cotton, but also avoids some of the pitfalls of the pure blend.
With the quality kinds being largely comprised of cotton, you're at risk of dryer shrinkage of up to 20 percent. Sizing up means you don't have to sweat it if the shirt accidentally tumbles dry.
The label 'Pure cotton', especially in India, doesn't mean that the fabric is only made of cotton. Rather, it means that the amount of cotton that has been used in the fabric is pure. If you are looking for cotton garments that are not blended, what you should ideally go for is a 100% cotton tag.
7 - 9 oz (210 - 270 grams) is a very light weight that is ideal for the warmest temperatures and most breathability. 9.5 - 12 oz (285 - 360 grams) is a midweight and the best option for "all season" suits.
Hence, it's best to take care of them as much as possible to keep the pieces looking good even after regular wear and tear. One tip would be to start by buying high-quality linen fabrics for making your clothes.
"100% cotton" means the fabric is not blended and is made of stronger, softer, and comfortable natural product consisting of fibers picked from the plant. On one side it's strong enough to last many hot washes, and on the other hand, it's biodegradable.
Durability: While 100% cotton is durable enough for most residential users, 100% cotton is sensitive to high temperature wash and drying processes. The rigors of commercial laundering take a toll on pure cotton products, often resulting in rips, tears, or loss of color.
30/1 (or 30 Singles) refers to the yarn count. This is the unit of measurement that defines the fineness of the thread. The higher the number, the finer the thread and thus a finer, softer fabric is created. T-shirts made of 30/1 are much softer and have a better drape than shirts made of 20/1.
Supima cotton is a high-quality type of cotton that is made from Gossypium barbadense . It is considered to be one of the softest and strongest forms of cotton in the world, and the methods of production and certification that are used for Supima cotton are different than those used for Pima cotton.
Pima is considered the finest cotton on earth. As an extra-long staple (ESL) cotton, its long fibers make it extra soft and extra strong. The result? Luxuriously smooth fabric that is resistant to fraying, tearing, pilling, wrinkling, and fading.
Ultra cotton is a heavier weight and even thicker fabric than Heavy Cotton. Dry Blend fabric is made from a combination of cotton and polyester. Since polyester is naturally moisture-wicking, Dry Blend t-shirts will keep the wearer feeling more cool and dry than a Heavy or Utra Cotton shirt would.
For more than four decades China has been the world's largest producer of cotton. China grows more cotton than it consumes. Since 2011-2012, China's share in the global cotton harvest is 28%; India, the second largest producer produces 24%, while the U.S. which is the third largest producer produces 13%.
Pima grown in the San Joaquin Valley is considered the finest cotton on earth. SUPIMA is the branded licensed US Pima cotton that enforces the highest quality and distribution standards. Pima is great for fine and super-fine yarns.
Finely combed, long fibre cotton fabrics are in general considered to be of high quality. The fabrics are the most durable beauce of their finer yarn, which makes them pretty strong. Additionally, they are very soft to touch and can be manipulated to determine the required breathability of the final fabric.
The Pima cotton is the finest cotton in the world, used mainly in luxury brands, as per its unique softness & luster. Garments made in pima cotton are a great pleasure to wear.
100% cotton tends to rip and wear out easily, depending on the weave. Cotton canvas is a very durable and abrasion-resistant fabric, but it is very thick and heavy.
Since a pound is a universal measure of one number weight(16 ounces), it does not matter what the object is, if there is a pound of each object, then they both weigh the same, therefore none can be heavier.
Here's the tricky thing about fabric weight. "Ounce" isn't referring to the weight of the bag, it's referring to the weight of the cotton that's used to make the bag. The proper unit for measuring fabric weight in this case isn't an ounce, but an ounce per square yard.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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