There was a time when the champagne we lift in celebration would have been thrown away. Bubbles were once seen as the sign of a poor wine, but they are now something consumers are willing to pay a premium for.
The same is true of slub cotton. The irregularities that give the fabric its name were once seen as defects that had to be removed from yarn that would be used to make clothes.
Flash forward to now, and yesterday’s unsightly lumps have become one of today’s hottest design trends.
This article will explain what slub cotton is, how it is made and why you should think about adding some of it to your wardrobe.
What Is Slub Cotton?
The yarn that is turned into shirts, pants and other items of clothing is made by spinning several fibers together to make a single strand.
Modern spinning machines can make nearly perfect yarn continuously, but the equipment used during the early days of automation was used to create yarn with small areas that were thicker than the rest.
These soft lumps were called slubs, and they had to be found and removed before the yarn could be sorted and sold. When unweaving to remove slubs was not possible, the entire length of yarn was thrown away.
Fashion designers are always looking for ways to make their clothes unique, and they soon realized that removed or discarded slubs could be rebranded as a design feature.
Items made out of slubbed silk were the first to appear, but it was not long before just about every popular fabric had a slubbed alternative.
Most slubbed clothing is made out of silk, cotton or some sort of synthetic fabric, but slubbed linen and even tweed is also available.
So if you were shopping and wondered to yourself, “What does slub knit mean?” the above definition and the rest of this post should answer all your questions about this unique and functional style of clothing.
How is Slub Cotton Made?
The lines and ridges that give slub cotton its distinctive appearance are called roves, and they are made by twisting and knotting yarn intentionally during the spinning process. The fabric produced has more texture and a vintage aesthetic, which has made it extremely popular for both casual and dressy items. There are two ways slub shirts can be made:
- Random slubs: This kind of fabric is produced when ring spinning frames are programmed to create thick spots randomly. Clothes made out of randomly slubbed cotton have a natural look and unique texture but no discernable pattern. Most slub T-shirts are made in this way.
- Engineered slubs: Placing slubs an equal distance apart produces a yarn that can be used to create distinct patterns. The way the pattern looks is determined by the length of the slubs and the twist angle. Longer slubs look more natural, but shorter slubs can make more elaborate patterns.
Why We Use Slub Cotton
Slub fabrics are becoming extremely popular because they cost about the same as regular fabrics but have a lot more personality. The ridges add texture to casual items and give dressier clothes a natural and raw element. As an added bonus, slubbed fabrics are easy to care for since they do not require much ironing.
Slub shirts are hot items because they have a retro or vintage vibe and look great, but they are also comfortable to wear as they do not cling to the body.
Bear in mind, though, that slub cotton does have a few drawbacks in the way of stiffness and a tendency to shrink with some brands. Although slub cotton is not perfect, it adds a lot of character to clothes that might otherwise look drab or plain. Meanwhile, WRK slub tees perfect blend (more on that below) minimizes any imperfections the fabric is prone to and provides softness and fit that will make you look and feel great.
What is a Slub Tee Shirt?
Slub tee shirts are made with slub cotton that has the slightly lumpy characteristic the material is known for. This results in a material with a nice texture that is light, airy, and doesn’t cling to the body. They have a timeless appeal and look exceptional when worn with your favorite pair of jeans and some casual shoes.
Our Slub Cotton Products
If you lean toward the unusual or would just like a few options that offer a change of pace, WRK has you covered with a short-sleeved slub tee shirt available in black, gray, navy blue and white and a long-sleeved Tee available in black, navy blue, teal and white. Both of these tees have faux-raglan details to add interest and curved hems for a relaxed fit. They are cut narrower at the arms, chest and waist to enhance the male physique, and they are made out of a blend of cotton, modal and spandex that delivers the look and feel of slubs without the drawbacks.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that is both comfortable to wear and easy to car for. It is extremely breathable, which makes it a great choice for places known for their heat and humidity. Cotton is also hypoallergenic and quite durable. Slubs look great on cotton, but the fabric does have some issues. It is prone to shrinking and holds onto moisture, which is why it only makes up 58% of a WRK slub tee.
Modal
Modal is a relatively new fabric that is made out of cellulose taken from beech trees. It is even more absorbent than cotton, but it wicks moisture away from the body instead of trapping it next to the skin. Modal is also more hardwearing and 50% more shrink resistant than cotton, but it is also twice as soft and feels silky to the touch. WRK slub tees contain 38.5% modal.
Spandex
The spandex that makes up 3.5% of a WRK slub tee provides the garment with exceptional strength and elasticity. There is not enough spandex to change the look and feel of the tee, but there is enough to make sure that it will always return to its original shape.
Form and Function to Fit Your Lifestyle
At WRK, we believe that the clothes men wear should reflect their passions and the way they approach life. Our garments are designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional, and they will keep their good looks for years. If you would like to find out more about the long and short-sleeved slub shirts, you can check them out on our online catalog page.