Fabric Guide
What Is Viscose Fabric? Feel, Care, and Shrinkage Data (2024)
Viscose fabric is a semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp, popular for its softness and drape. Here’s what it is made of,…
Know how a fabric will feel, wear and wash before you buy it.
Shrinking, fading, pilling, itchy seams, a size that never fits — most clothing problems start with the fabric. These guides explain why they happen and what to buy instead.
Written by Kamrul Islam, textile engineer — Head of Dyeing & Development
Cotton jersey
Grade 1–5- BreathabilityAir and moisture through the fabric 4/5
- Pilling resistanceFuzz balls after wear 3/5
- Shrink resistanceSize change in the wash 2/5
- Wrinkle resistanceCreasing in wear 2/5
- Color holdFading and bleeding 4/5
Soft and breathable; shrinks unless pre-shrunk (compacted) at the mill. Typical fibre behaviour — each guide adds measured results for real garments.
Start with the problem you have
Each topic is a shade on our card — pick one to see every guide in it.
Fabric Guide
What each fabric is, how it is made and how it behaves.
13 guides
Fabric vs Fabric
Side-by-side comparisons to help you choose.
13 guides
Shrinkage, Fading & Color Bleeding
Why clothes shrink, fade or stain each other.
14 guides
Washing & Care
Care labels decoded and fabric-by-fabric washing.
13 guides
Pilling, Holes & Durability
Fuzz balls, holes and clothes that wear out fast.
13 guides
Fit & Size Guide
Measuring, size charts and bra fitting.
12 guides
Underwear, Bras & Socks
Fabrics and styles for what you wear closest to skin.
10 guides
Season & Climate Guide
What to wear in heat, cold, humidity and sweat.
10 guides
Fabric Quality & Specs
GSM, yarn types, finishes and how to judge quality.
9 guides
New guides
Season & Climate Guide
Is Rayon Breathable? What Lab Tests Reveal About Viscose Comfort
Rayon (viscose) is breathable and cooler than most synthetics, but holds more moisture than cotton. Lab data and care tips for comfort…
Fabric Quality & Specs
What Is Sublimation Printing? How It Works, Fabrics, Pros & Cons
Sublimation printing is a method that uses heat to transfer dyes directly into synthetic fabrics. Discover how it works, its best uses,…
Pilling, Holes & Durability
Moth Holes in Sweater or T-Shirt: Causes, Risks, and Prevention
Moth holes in sweaters or T-shirts are tiny, irregular holes caused by clothes moth larvae feeding on animal fibers. This guide shows…
Fabric vs Fabric
Silk vs Satin: Which Is Best for Clothing, Bedding and More?
Silk and satin look similar but have key differences in fiber, feel, care, and price. Learn how genuine silk and satin each…
Shrinkage, Fading & Color Bleeding
Does Polyester Shrink? Real Data on Washing, Hot Water, and Care
Pure polyester is resistant to major shrinkage, but real fabric testing shows it can shrink slightly with hot water or tumble drying.…
Measured, not guessed
Where a guide gives a number — shrinkage, color fastness, pilling grade, fabric weight — it comes from a stated test method, so you can see exactly how it was found.
- Shrinkage
- Length and width marked before and after washing (ISO 6330 / ISO 5077 method).
- Color fastness
- Washing and rubbing, graded 1–5 on the grey scale (ISO 105-C06, ISO 105-X12).
- Pilling
- Martindale abrasion, graded 1–5 against photo standards (ISO 12945-2).
- Strength
- Bursting strength for knits (ISO 13938-2).
- Weight
- Grams per square metre (GSM) from a cut sample.
Kamrul Islam
Kamrul Islam is a textile engineer who has worked in industrial fabric dyeing and development since 2012. He studied wet processing (dyeing) at the University of Chittagong, ran dyeing production, and has headed dyeing and fabric development since 2017 — recipes, shade approval and functional finishes. He writes here so shoppers can understand fabrics the way the people who make…