Blended fabric

Blended fabric denotes textiles whose yarn or fabric consists of at least two different fibre types. The aim is to combine advantages: e.g. cotton-polyester (softness + stability), cotton-elastane (comfort + recovery), wool-cashmere (warmth + hand), polyester-viscose (easy care + drape). It can be a woven or knitted fabric depending on production.

A distinction is made between intimate blend (fibres are mixed in spinning, giving a blended yarn), ply blend (plying a yarn per fibre) and combination weave (warp and weft of different fibres). Examples: T/C 65/35 (65 % polyester, 35 % cotton), CVC (Chief Value Cotton, >50 % cotton), C/EL 95/5 (cotton stretch).

Regulations (EU Textile Labelling Regulation) require declaration of all fibres in descending order by mass. For example, 80 % cotton / 20 % polyester guarantees a defined composition. Blends dominate modern apparel because they optimally balance price, care and wear properties. Uses everywhere: shirts, blouses, trousers, T-shirts, uniforms, bedding. Note: small fibre proportions (below 5 %) often have only marketing effect.