Selection guide
Choosing fabrics for a womenswear collection
Look beyond the pattern to how you want a fabric to behave in your design. Photographs help you create a shortlist; physical samples are needed to assess the handle, drape and sewing result.
Start with the design and pattern scale
Note the silhouette and season you have in mind for a dress, skirt, jacket or matching set. Explain whether the intended look is fluid or more defined so that alternatives can be discussed against the same brief.
A large motif and a small repeat create different effects on the same garment pattern. A photograph may be a close-up: check the actual motif size and repeat on a sample. Consider pattern direction, matching across panels and cutting layout for your particular design.
Do not settle the drape from a photograph
Lustre and surface texture may be visible in an image, but a single photograph cannot reliably establish softness, stretch, recovery or fit. Fold and release a sample, then assess it with the garment pattern you intend to use.
Whether a garment needs lining, how it looks against the body and how it sews depend on the complete design. The fabric name alone cannot settle those choices; make a sewing trial for your own product.
Read weight, width and composition together
GSM describes fabric weight per square metre; it is not a quality grade or a direct measure of thickness. Width is used when planning the cutting layout and required quantity. Two fabrics with the same GSM can have different structures and drape.
Match specifications to the code of your selected fabric. Do not apply the composition, weight or width of one fabric to every item in its collection. If you need to convert metres to kilograms, request a separate calculation using the confirmed details of that fabric.
Compare colours and samples under the same conditions
Screen settings, lighting and fabric direction can change the way a colour appears. When choosing between similar shades, ask about physical swatch cards or samples and compare them under the same light.
A colour shown on a card is not a guarantee of current stock. Confirm the chosen fabric and colour together before ordering. If you need care, shrinkage or colourfastness information, request product-specific information or available test documentation rather than drawing conclusions from an image.
- Save the product code or visual number.
- Check pattern direction, motif size and fabric width.
- Compare colour and handle using a physical sample.
- Confirm the required specifications and complete a sewing trial.
Your next step
Share the photograph you like, the garment type, your chosen colour and an estimated quantity. This lets us discuss a specific fabric rather than a broad fabric name.