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What You Need to Know About Suit Fabrics

When it comes to designing a custom suit, nothing is as important the fabric you choose. Suits are a symbol of sophistication and allow you to showcase some of your own personal style. Gone are the days where the only option you have is an oversized black suit from the department store.

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The fabric you choose is especially important here in Arizona. The summers can be pretty unforgiving and you don't want to get stuck wearing a suit made of fabric that traps all the heat in. Knowing the different weights and weaves of fabrics can help you make better decisions to allow you to stay stylish even in the heat.

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We've put together a simple guide to fabric types and weights so you can be more prepared when designing your next custom suit. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email.

Custom Suit Fabric Brands We Carry

The Suit Effect

We are dedicated to bringing you the highest quality at the best price. That's why we have sourced an all inclusive collection of high-quality wool fabrics for suiting, jackets, and trousers. This collection of Super 110's, 100% wool fabric covers all your daily needs. Based on our knowledge of men's style mixed with our understanding of the practical needs of everyday men we compiled a collection that will allow you to suit up in style in whatever way fits you best.

Fitzgerald

Our collection of Fitzgerald fabrics ranges from light-weight, spring/summer linen and silk blends, to year round worsted wools, to heavy winter flannels. Carefully selected to provide not only a variety of seasonal and year-round fabrics, this collection also includes a broad range of styles and patterns that will fit all of your suiting needs.

Loro Piana

Loro Piana is viewed as one of the finest producers of woolen suit fabric in the world. The Loro Piana family began as wool merchants as far back as the early 1800s and the company is currently headquartered in Quarona, northern Italy. Loro Piana produces some of the finest and most sought after cloths in the world. Loro Piana controls each stage of their process to ensure their quality standards are upheld. 

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Loro Piana has created a vast supply network of raw materials for their fabrics, sourcing the highest qaulity materials all the way from  cashmere from Mongolia to merino wool from New Zealand and Australia.

Ermenildo Zegna

Lanificio Zegna (wool mill) was founded in 1910 by Ermenegildo Zegna in Trivero, Italy. Today, the Zegna Wool Mill is renowned across the globe as a producer of the world’s finest suiting textiles. 

 

Today, Ermengildo Zegna is a fully vertically integrated company and one of Italy’s most praised family businesses. The complete production process is carried out by Ermenegildo Zegna – from raw material selection to finishing.

Vitale Barberis Canonico

Established in 1663, Vitale Barberis Canonico has been a family owned business for 15 generations and is the oldest woolen mill in the world. Headquartered in Northern Italy, VBC performs all of their operations in-house, from the sourcing of raw wool, through the different stages of production that generate the final product. 

VBC has been producing some of the worlds finest cloth for several centuries, resulting an expertise that cannot be matched. They not only make cloth for their own brand, but they also are the provider of cloth for other mills that market the cloth under other names, making Vitale Barberis Canonico one of the most important producers of suiting cloth in the world.

Reda

Reda has been making high quality cloth in Northern Italy since 1865. The quality of Reda fabrics comes from a carefully controlled production process, from the raw materials to the finished product. Merino wool is sourced in New Zealand and is sent to the Reda mill, in Italy, where the manufacturing tradition has been passed down through generations.

Check out our PRICING page for more info

Suit Fabric Types

  • Wool

    • ​​​Wool is the go to for most suits. Its a natural fabric that breaths well and offers a lot of versatility. Wool is soft and wrinkle free which makes it great for long days of use. Wool comes in a variety of different textures and weaves which offer their own respective benefits. These include Flannel, Tweed, and Cashmere.

      • ​Flannel - a heavier fabric, ideal for fall and winter

      • Tweed - a rougher, heavier fabric great for adding texture to your outfit

      • Cashmere - a more luxurious fabric, meant for special occasion suits

  • Cotton

    • Cotton is the perfect fabric for a summer work horse suit. Its durable and lightweight which is ideal for hot summer days. It definitely has a more casual look than wool, especially because it can crease easily, but it still is a great addition to any wardrobe.

  • Linen

    • Linen is the lightest suit fabric available​. Its extremely breathable which makes it perfect for hot summer days. Getting married in the summer? Go with a linen suit for the ultimate tailored look and still survive the heat. The only downside to linen is that it wrinkles very easily. However, its still the perfect summer suit option.

  • Silk

    • Silk is one of the more expensive fabrics and offers the ultimate combination of comfort and luxury. Its very breathable which makes it great for regulating temperature. You'll rarely find a suit fabric made from only silk. We carry a variety of wool and silk blend fabrics for guys wanting to not break the bank, but still go with a luxurious and classic look.

Suit Fabric Weights

Below you will find typical fabric weights, and what type of suit they are most suitable for:

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  • 7 oz – 8 oz: Light weight

Ideal for the warmer temperatures of summer. Or what we call in Arizona, year round. You'll want at least one of these for those 120 degree days. These are typically made of linen, cotton, or a lighter weave of wool. They tend to be more casual so they definitely aren't for all occasions.

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  • 9 oz – 10 oz: Mid weight

These are your year round or 4 seasons fabrics. This is where wool reigns supreme. Because of its natural characteristics it will keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. These suits are best for guys that want to get the most out of their suit.

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  • 11 oz – 12 oz: Heavy weight

Flannels and Tweeds. These are best for cooler months of late fall into the dead of winter. You get a lot more texture with these fabrics which makes dressing up a little more fun. In Arizona, you may not get the most use out of this weight of fabric, but we feel you should still have at least one suit or sport coat so you can pretend that we have a "winter."

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