Linen vs Cotton for a Summer Shirtdress
Fold a collar stand, gather a waistband and put a pocket bag behind pale cloth before choosing the shirtdress fabric.
Read the guideWomenswear Buyer Guides
Find a fabric for a summer dress, measure a shirt that pulls across the bust or work out how many meters to order for a run of skirts.
Material Comparisons
A shirt collar needs enough body to stand up. A slip dress needs to fall in folds. See how linen, cotton, silk, wool and cashmere behave in the garments they’re cut for.
Silk vs Satin for a Bias-Cut Slip Dress
See what changes at a cowl neckline when you switch the weave, adjust a strap or turn under a light.
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Wool vs Cashmere for a Tailored Coat
A half-front, a cuff and a short belt let you try two coatings before paying for a second coat sample.
Read the guideFit & Care
The fit guide follows a tape measure from body to sample. The care guide follows a finished garment through washing, drying and pressing.
How to Measure a Womenswear Sample for Fit
Follow the tape from body chart to finished shirt, then write a fitting note the pattern maker can act on.
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Garment Care for Cotton, Linen, Wool, Silk and Cashmere
Wash, dry and measure both layers of a lined dress before settling the wording on its care label.
Read the guideSourcing & Quality
A roll can come up short on usable width, and a blend percentage may apply only to the lining. These guides cover the details behind the mill quote and the sample inspection.
Ordering Fabric by the Meter or Yard
A worked silk order for 48 bias-cut skirts shows how to quote a sample cut, bulk length and cutting allowance.
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Checking the Cloth and Workmanship of a Linen Blazer
Trace the shell fabric to its mill, then check the lapels, welt pockets and vent on the finished jacket.
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How to Read Fabric Composition on a Garment Spec
Untangle a lined dress specification by giving the shell, bodice lining and pocket bags their own fabric entries.
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