Fabric Descriptions

ILM Jersey Facts
ILM jersey hijabs are oversize hijabs in terms of length of the fabric that sits on your head neatly and you can create beautiful folds or wrap them the way you want, giving a more comfy and casual look. They are fairly opaque, but the lighter colours may be slightly see through in a single layer.
Highly recomended for evryday use.

Comparison
• They are stretchable and longer than ILM featherlites, chiffons and cottonlites.
• Their edges feature an overlock finish.

 
ILM Chiffon Facts
ILM Chiffon maxi hijabs have grainy texture which resists slipping and when used with a cotton undercap, they sit nicely without slipping. Their delicate fabric is see-through with a rich look and feel.
Recommended for formal or evening wear.

Comparison
• They have a more formal look compared to jersey, featherlite and cottonlite hijabs.
• They boast a sleek dressy look withouy adding too much volume compared to cottonlites or soft plain hijabs.
• They are not stretchable as jersey hijabs.
• They feature fine thin hemming all around.


ILM Cottonlite Facts
Their fabric has a soft crinkly texture and large size allowing you to create nice volume and styles. Soft and more absorbent.

Highly recommended for everyday use.

Comparison
• A better quality plain hijab compared to viscose plain hijabs.
• Not dressy as chiffons and not as neat look and volume as jerseys, but they give you very subtle everyday look with a fine volume.
• The size is slightly longer than the featherlites and their fabric weave is also more dense.
• If you don't like a stretchable or chiffon material, go for these everyday plain hijabs.

 
ILM Featherlite Facts
Crinkly texture, lightweight and soft. These hijabs feature regular length but are fairly wide for easy styling options. They are not slippery, but a cotton undercap is recommended are they are slightly see-through.

Comparison
• They are softer than ILM jerseys, cottonlites and chiffons, even softer than viscose plain hijabs.
• They are a few inches shorter in length than ILM jerseys and cottonlites.
• Their fabric is lighter than jerseys and cottonlites.
• A fuss-free hijab that doesn't really need ironing.


Tassel Shawl Facts - Cashmere vs. Viscose Tassel
The viscose tassel hijabs are not maxi hijabs, but their fabric has a nice sheen. You can create neat folds with these hijabs. Best for a sleek, everyday look. Ironing after a wash restores its shine and look.
Cashmere hijabs are made of a thicker faux cashmere fabric and are bigger in size than the viscose tassels. They also have a nice sheen.You can create neat folds with these hijabs.

Viscose Plain Hijab Facts
Their fabric is a blend of viscose and polyester. Their softness is usually dependent on how much fabric softener is used after dying them, and thus it can vary sometimes.

They are see-through. Their fairly wide size allows for many styling options and gives a fine volume. They do not need much ironing.

Comparison
• Thinner than cottonlites.
• Casual and affordable.
• May require more care than the cottonlites.



Glossary

There are mainly two types of fabrics - natural & synthetic.

Natural fabrics are sourced from plants and animals. Natural fabrics commonly used for clothing are cotton, linen, wool, and silk. They are comforting to wear, soft, and strong. Their natural structures make them breathable and great when temperature starts to rise. The main disadvantage of clothing made from natural fabrics is their cost. Clothing made with natural fabrics is generally more expensive.

Synthetic fabrics are made from processing materials from nature, adding some chemicals and then treating them with various chemicals and processing. Polyester and acrylic are two examples of synthetic fabrics. Synthetic fabrics offer great value for money, but they may not be as comforting to wear as fabrics made from natural sources.

(Portions of the following fabric descriptions adapted from fabric.com)

Acrylic
A manufactured fiber, its major properties include a soft, wool-like hand, machine washable and dryable and excellent color retention.

Bamboo Fabric
Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo fabric has been growing in popularity because it has many unique properties and is more sustainable than most textile fibers. Bamboo fabric is light and strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is to some extent antibacterial.

Cashmere
A natural fiber obtained from the soft fleecy undergrowth of the Kashmir goat. A luxury fiber with a very soft hand. Pure cashmere fabric is fairly expensive. The inexpensive faux cashmere fabric is usually made of viscose and acrylic blend fibres.

Chiffon
Lightweight, sheer and airy fabric, containing highly twisted fibers. Suitable for full pants, loose tops or dresses, scarves.

Cotton
A white vegetable fiber grown in warmer climates in many parts of the world, has been used to produce many types of fabric for hundreds of years. Cotton fabric feels good against the skin regardless of the temperature or the humidity and is therefore in great demand by the consumer.

Crepe
Used to describe all kinds of fabrics--wool, cotton, silk, rayon, synthetics and blends that have a crinkle, crimped or grained surface.

Crocheted
Loose, open knit made by looping thread with a hooked needle. Used for light, summer sweaters.

Denim
A twill weave cotton fabric made with different colored yarns in the warp and the weft. Due to the twill construction, one color predominates on the fabric surface. Suitable for pants, jackets and skirts. Pre-wash and dry 100% cotton denim at least twice to eliminate shrinkage and color bleeding.

Embroidery
An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which colored threads are sewn on to the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be done either by hand or machine.

Georgette
A drapey woven fabric created from highly twisted yarns creating a pebbly texture. It is semi-sheer and suitable for blouses, full pants and flowing dresses.

ITY Knit
ITY stands for Interlock Twist Yarn and is a soft, lightweight, slinky knit fabric often used to create tops, skirts, dresses, and dancewear. This fabric is tightly woven and does not wrinkle easily.

Jersey
Jersey fabric commonly refers to a fabric that is stretchable. A common synthetic fibre added to another fabric to make it stretchable is 'spandex'.

Lace
An openwork fabric with yarns that are twisted around each other to form complex patterns or figures. Lace may be hand or machine made by a variety of fabrication methods including weaving, knitting, crocheting, and knotting.

Linen
A natural plant fiber, linen fibers are stronger and more lustrous than cotton. Depending on the weight, it’s appropriate for anything from heirloom sewing and blouses to slacks and jackets.

Lawn
A light, fine cloth made using carded or combed, linen or cotton yarns. The fabric has a crease-resistant, crisp finish. Linen lawn is synonymous with handkerchief linen. Cotton lawn is a similar type of fabric, which can be white, solid colored, or printed.

Lycra
A DuPont trademark for its spandex fiber. Any time you see this fiber listed on a label, expect comfort, movement, and shape retention that won't wash away.

Microfibers
An extremely fine synthetic fiber that can be woven into textiles with the texture and drape of natural-fiber cloth but with enhanced washability, breathability, and water repellancy.

Modal
A type of rayon created with reconstituted cellulose. Modal fabrics are commonly used in creating towels, pajamas, robes, and sheets.

Polyester
A manufactured fiber introduced in the early 1950s, and is second only to cotton in worldwide use. Polyester has high strength (although somewhat lower than nylon), excellent resiliency, and high abrasion resistance. Low absorbency allows the fiber to dry quickly.

Rayon
A natural fiber created from wood pulp, it usually has good drape and a soft hand. It’s appropriate for tops, shirts, skirts and dresses.

Satin
With a lustrous, shiny surface, drapability depends on fiber content. Silk and rayon satins have the best stitch results.

Sequined
Ornamented with a small plate of shining metal or plastic.

Sheer
Any very light-weight fabric (e.g., chiffon, georgette, voile, sheer crepe). Usually has an open weave. Sheers mostly feel cool.

Silk
A natural filament fiber produced by the silkworm in the construction of its cocoon. Most silk is collected from cultivated worms; Tussah silk, or wild silk, is a thicker, shorter fiber produced by worms in their natural habitat. All silk comes from Asia, primarily China.

Spandex
A synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is usually mixed in a small quantity to another main fabric to make it stretchable.

Twill
A fabric that shows a distinct diagonal wale on the face (e.g., denim, gabardine, tricotine).

Velvet
With a longer pile, velvet is the most luxurious fabric. Stretch velvet has some lycra, It can be machine washed and will not create a shine in the seat or elbows. Appropriate for tops, skirts and fuller pants.

Viscose
The most common type of rayon - a natural fiber created from wood pulp. It is produced in much greater quantity than cuprammonium rayon, the other commercial type.

Voile
A crisp, lightweight, plain weave cotton-like fabric, similar in appearance to organdy and organza. It is appropriate for curtains as well as blouses and dresses.

Wool
Wool is naturally stain and wrinkle resistant. It can absorb up to 40% of it’s weight in moisture without feeling damp. Wool comes in many forms including crepe, challis, gabardine, merino, melton, jersey and worsted wool suitings.