When you hear the word “chambray,” you may immediately think of a fabric with blue color that’s sort of rigid and can be used in almost any manner. Some may even be referring to denim. But there is quite a significant difference between the two.
The chambray Vs denim debate has been going on for years, making it tough to choose a favorite between the two types of fabric.
Chambray Vs. Denim; How Are The Fibers Produced?
Denim and chambray are two examples of blue fabrics with similar textures that are produced from cotton. The fundamental distinction between the two fabrics is how the cloth is woven. That’s why the fabric’s weave determines the properties of the cloth and its applications.
Chambray can be made of linen, cotton, silk, or combining two or all of them. However, this depends on the style of the manufacturer.
The use of colored yarns in the warp and white threads in the weft distinguishes chambray as a type of fabric with a plain weave or a poplin. The warp and weft threads are woven in chambray fabric so they alternately cross over one another.
While to make denim, weavers utilize a technique known as three-twist weaving, which involves using colored yarns in both the warp and weft threads. But the warp thread will first overlap two weft threads before tucking beneath a third weft thread.
Chambray Vs. Denim; Texture Comparison
The plain weave of chambray gives it a softer texture and a lighter weight, while denim fabric has a twill weave that’s thicker with a grainier, stiffer texture.
The square-shaped chambray weave pattern creates the impression that the fibers are silkier, more balanced, and more flexible.
Because of its finer weave, which has more threads per square inch, it is more aesthetically beautiful and better at controlling your body temperature and keeping you comfortable.
Denim, on the other, feels harder and more rigid than chambray fabric because of the fabric slubs and its twill pattern.
The various methods that can be utilized to make denim fabric are numerous. One of the most popular weaving techniques is the shuttle loom, which creates denim with selvage.
Chambray Vs. Denim: How They’re Used
The most popular casual and formal summer clothing made from Chambray includes shorts, skirts, blouses, and dresses. Also, a variety of shirts, including “Oxford” shirts and button-down shirts with long sleeves and collars, are produced from it.
Many people use Chambray fabric in their homes to make quilts and other bedding, as well as curtains, pillowcases, tablecloths, and placemats. It can take the place of denim in some instances.
Denim is thicker and looser than Chambray, which offers a more relaxed and informal look.
In addition to jeans and hats, belts, handbags, rucksacks, sunglasses, and other accessories, denim can be utilized to produce a variety of skirts, pants, and shorts, just like chambray.
In addition, Denim fabrics may also be used to make various products, including but not limited to furniture, automobiles, and accessories.
Chambray Vs. Denim; Cost
The wholesale or retail outlet you purchase any fabric from is always related to its cost. The price you pay may be much higher if the advertised fabric is of a higher quality.
Looking at this fact, the cost of chambray fabric can be pretty much affordable compared to some types of denim fabrics.
When chambray is crafted from cotton, it can be purchased for a more affordable price, but when it is crafted from silk, this means that it might be more expensive. Cotton is very common and in good demand, unlike silk.
Conversely, certain types of denim can be extremely pricey, even as much as several hundred dollars a yard.
It may be more expensive to buy, especially if they were produced in an environmentally and ethically sound manner.
Because it does not require a significant increase in production costs to transform cotton yarn into denim, denim fabric falls in the middle of the price spectrum for most fabrics.
Maintenance Tips For Chambray And Denim Fabrics
Although quite similar fabric types, Chambray and Denim require different maintenance tips to make them last a very long time and preserve their unique qualities.
Some maintenance tips you could use include.
For Denim Fabric
- To maintain the strength of your fabric’s fibers, it’s better to reduce the number of times you carry out a wash cycle each week. Instead of frequent washing, you can easily remove the dirt using a microfiber towel with mild soap.
- Ensure when cleaning denim that you turn the garment inside out and close all the zippers and buttons to prevent any damage or change in color.
- If you use a washer for denim laundry, set your washer to a cold cycle. Doing this means that there is less chance of the fabric being faded or shrunken.
- After washing, you can air or line dry them.
This prevents the denim from losing its form or being stretched or distorted.
For Chambray Fabric
- To avoid the colors becoming muddled, you should not wash the item with any other kind of cloth.
- Washing chambray which is typically constructed of 100 percent cotton every time, makes the fabric more pliable. So, wash them less frequently in cold water to prevent shrinkage.
- Make sure that the creased side of the chambray fabric faces outward before putting it in storage or ironing it.
- You can utilize a hot iron for pressing chambray clothing. However, the fabric shouldn’t be ironed for long with the iron still on it.
- You can also use a dryer set for your chambray fabric or probably air dry them if the former is not available. Just make sure to program the low settings option on the dryer set.