Manufacturing with Slub

Chances are you own an item of clothing with slub fabric. Chances are you also have no idea what that means. If you have a t-shirt or a dress or sweater that looks and feels a little lumpy (and always has, even when it was new) then you own slub fabric clothing.

Slub fabric has a unique look to it: it may appear defective because of the knots and bumps throughout the material but that’s done purposely to achieve the lumpy texture. These qualities can occur naturally as is the case with wool or cotton, or can be created using modern machinery.

Like all fabrics, slub begins with greige cloth that then undergoes the dyeing process. The dyeing process for slubs is done in such a way as to emphasize the lumps and knots throughout the textile.

There are various reasons a designer would choose a slub fabric: its high “drape-ability” and “good fall,” or it simply might fit the type of look they’re going for. For streetwear — especially slub jersey knit fabrics which are often employed in the manufacturing of sweatshirts, t-shirts and hoodies. Slub fabrics tend to work well with those garments.

The “drape-ability” of the material is what gives the piece its natural street-feel while the slubs add a little grit to the garments. An added bonus: slub fabric never needs to be ironed.

Fabric selection can be a complex and tricky process. Because this particular textile selection can involve different steps (raw textile selection, dyeing, etc.) it’s critical to know who your supplier is and be certain that the product they deliver is up to snuff.

Apparel Network is well versed in the selection and production of garments that utilize slub fabric (see photo). Call us first if you have questions and need expert answers.