What is the difference between mercerized and non-mercerized cotton?

Here are some tips which help in building up our knowledge in sourcing textile before carrying out sourcing textile in Vietnam.

Mercerized cotton is a special kind of cotton yarn that is more lustrous than conventional cotton. It is also stronger, takes dye a little more readily, makes the yarn more resistant to mildew and reduces lint. It also may not shrink or lose its shape as much as "regular" cotton.

Mercerized cotton has a higher luster, greater strength, holds more dye, and does not shrink as much when washed as unmercerized cotton. Mercerized cotton yarn is smoother and shinier than unmercerized cotton making it more suitable for garments and fancier items. It also has less tendency to pill or create lint. It reduces the absorbency of the fiber, so unmercerized cotton is preferred for things like hand towels and diaper soakers.

Mercerizing is a process where the raw cotton is put through a sodium hydroxide bath and then an acid bath. It slightly changes the structure of the cotton fiber, making it stronger and more lustrous. It also somewhat pre-shrinks the fiber so the yarn doesn't shrink as much during laundering as regular cotton.

What is the difference between semi-combed and combed cotton yarn?

Understanding the difference between semi-combed and combed cotton yarn is one of required criteria of garment sourcing company in Vietnam. 

Currently, The cotton plants in Vietnam are not enough to supply the demand of clothing factories in Vietnam. Therefore garment sourcing company in Vietnam have to consider carefully all the alternatives of supply whether from domestic or abroad.

Combed cotton is an extremely soft version of cotton made by specially treating the cotton fibers before they are spun into yarn. As a general rule, combed cotton is slightly more expensive than conventional cotton. The extremely soft, strong material is ideal for making bed linens and clothing which will be worn against the skin. If the textile used in a cotton product is combed cotton, it will usually be clearly identified.

What is jersey knit verses interlock knit verses ribbed knit fabric? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Knitwear in Vietnam is workable with the most popular knitting fabrics below. They are used in word wide, domestic, and even industrial use.


Jersey knit: most popularly seen in knitwear in Vietnam. they are those single weft knits "in which all the component knitted loops are of the same sort and meshed in the same manner". They are composed solely of knits stitches. Wales show on the face side and courses show on the back of the fabric. The fabrics tends to curl at edges. Jersey-knit fabrics stretch approximately equally in both the length and width directions. One shortcoming of jersey-knit fabrics is that if one yarn breaks, it cause an unraveling of adjoining stitches, called a run.

Interlock knit: is produced by using both long and short needles that creates a fabrics with a cross 1x1 rib effect. It has a smooth surface on both sides. This is also a popular type of knitwear in Vietnam.

Rib knit is another type of knitwear in Vietnam which is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reserse stockinette stitch. These two types of stripes may be separated by other stripes in which knit and purl stitches alternate vertically; such plissé stripes add width and depth to ribbing but not more elasticity.

"What is ""right side and wrong side"" of jersey fabric?

Dont need to be as specific as from the knowledge of fashion clothes manufacturers in Vietnam, the "right side and wrong side" of jersey fabric can be easily classified as following.

Jersey fabric has a right side and a wrong side which make them different in the view point of fashion clothes manufacturers in Vietnam. The right side of the material is marked by a series of very small lines which run vertically, and the wrong side has a horizontal grain. In most cases, a garment made from jersey fabric is sewn with the right side facing out, unless the seamstress is making a deliberate stylistic choice.


Right Side

Wrong side

What is difference between "jersey" and "cardigan"?

Jersey: A jersey is an item of knitted clothing, traditionally in wool or cotton, with sleeves, worn as a pullover, as it does not open at the front, unlike a cardigan. It is usually close-fitting and machine knitted in contrast to a guernsey that is more often hand knit with a thicker yarn. The word is usually used interchangeably with sweater and is the name always officially used in the United Kingdom to refer to the item when worn as part of the uniform of military, police or other uniformed personnel.

A cardigan is a type of machine or hand knitted sweater (or jumper) that ties, buttons or zips down the front; by contrast, a pullover does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. Its versatility means it can be worn either in casual or formal settings and in any seasons, but popularly during the autumn and winter months.

These two items are most produce in Vietnam. Apparel agents in Vietnam export to Europe and America.

What is Single Knitted Jersey fabric compared to double knitted Jersey fabric?

Single Knitted Jersey: This most likely refers to a single needle bed knitting the fabric. Fabric knitted on only one needle bed is jersey fabric.

Double Knitting Jerseyis a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two yarns on one pair of needles. The fabrics may be inseparable, as in interlock knitted fabrics, or they can simply be two unconnected fabrics. In principle, an arbitrary number n of fabrics can be knitted simultaneously on one pair of knitting needles with n yarns, as long as one is careful.

Both single knitted jersey and double knitting are most popular fabrics in Vietnam. They are used world wide in a range of apparel, domestic and industrial uses.

Modal fabric and Lenzing Modal

Lenzing Modal
The ultimate sensual feeling next to the skin. The fiber remains wonderfully soft even after repeated washing and retains its color brilliance. Lenzing Modal® is the ideal partner for body conscious clothing. Appropriate for daywear, intimate apparel and a variety of terry products. Lenzing Modal the subjective softness factor leave you with no doubts: Lenzing Modal sample feel softer next to the skin than cotton.


ProModal
ProModal® is the perfect combination of Lenzing Modal® and TENCEL®, two special fibers from Lenzing. Together these fibers make it possible to unite outstanding softness with optimum function. Moreover, this new fiber blend offers interesting highlights for different hands and looks.


MicroModal
Lenzing Modal® is also available in a micro variant. This extra fine fiber makes textiles even lighter. It feels like “skin on skin”. You can hardly feel MicroModal® - it is so pleasant....


MicroModal AIR

Feather-light fineness from the world of plants

The newly developed micro fiber of Lenzing AG for which a patent has been filed stands out due to its extreme lightness and fineness. A fiber diameter of only 0.8 dtex makes MicroModal® AIR the lightest Modal fiber available in the marketplace.

Botanic Lightness

MicroModal® AIR is perfection itself when it comes to fineness. The new fiber can be used in luxurious lingerie. Knit fabrics become even lighter and finer than ever before. MicroModal® AIR tops with a mass per unit area of less than 100 g are now a reality.

Botanic Softness

The natural properties of the Lenzing Modal® fiber remain intact. The finest knit fabrics of MicroModal® AIR feel wonderfully soft. Even after repeated washing, these fabrics have not relinquished their fantastic softness. The exceptionally pleasant feeling on the skin continues.

Botanic Quality

MicroModal® AIR can be processed using high speed spinning systems. The knit fabrics are symmetrically smooth and reveal a perfect fabric appearance. Yarns up to a count of 225 Nm can be spun leading to new knit creations in the fine count range (e 36) for luxury applications.

Fiber from the plant world

MicroModal® AIR is made from beech wood. When the raw materials for MicroModal® AIR are growing, botanic principles apply: CO2 is converted into oxygen. Likewise fiber production obeys the principles of sustainability. Valuable by-products from the process are recovered and used again.

http://www.lenzing.com/en/fibers/lenzing-modal.html