Loopback Cotton: Fabric Guide
What is Loopback cotton?
Imagine a fabric that’s smooth cotton on one side, and soft build-ups of yarn on the other — sort of like terry towelling — and you’re just about there. It’s secretly comfy. Nobody needs to know how comfy you are. A hug hiding in broad daylight. Loopback cotton is sometimes referred to as French Terry, which is what we imagine Thierry Henry was referred to as by Tony Adams and Ray Parlour when he first joined Arsenal from Juventus. One for the football heads, there.
How is loopback cotton different from other fabrics?
It’s not the same on both sides. If you turn it inside-out, you are going to know about it. It’s sleek on the outside, and fluffy, warm and cosy on the inside. Like a croissant or a pain au chocolat.
How is it different from traditional cotton?
It’s the way it’s made. Traditional terry cloth is knitted on a loop with two sets of warp threads — one set with a very loose tension, the other with a more regular tension. That’s what gives terry cloth its absorbency and texture. French terry or loopback cotton only has these loops on one side. Regular cotton doesn’t have these loose loops at all.
What does loopback mean in clothing?
The loopback part of the fabric is the effect created by those loose tension stitches. The part that provides the insulation and the moisture wicking properties that make the fabric well-suited to sweatwear.
Is loopback cotton heavy?
Not necessarily. It’s naturally going to use slightly more fabric on average, compared with regular cotton materials, but loopback cotton can vary greatly in weight.
What is loopback fleece?
Fleece is a synthetic product, often made with recycled plastics. It’s naturally pretty water-resistant, light, and is unlikely to shrink in the wash. This makes it a pretty good alternative to natural products as long as it’s made with recycled plastics. Cotton is au naturel, baby, and is made from… cotton.
What are reverse loopback clothes?
Imagine a sweatshirt, right? Turn it inside-out in your mind. That’s reverse loopback. Variety is the spice of life.
Which clothes are made from loopback cotton?
Loopback cotton is great for loungewear and casual sportswear for all of the reasons mentioned above. It’s warm, so it’s not best-suited for actually playing sports in, but for pre and post-sports preparations and relaxation it’s absolutely perfect. It’s going to keep your temperature regular whilst those loops allow breathability and provide moisture-wicking for the skin. And let’s face it, after a weekly 9–0 trouncing down the Power League, you’re going to need all the comfort you can get.
Which cotton fabric is best?
That really depends on your needs, doesn’t it? If you’re after a classic cotton tee shirt, then poplin is good. If you’re after a sturdy jacket or trousers, go for denim or corduroy. Flannel is a great option for a workshirt, terry cloth for towels and loungewear, loopback cotton for sweatshirts… horses for courses, one man’s meat is another man’s poison, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, one garment’s seersucker is another garment’s twill.
Percival’s Loopback clothing collection
You’ve read all about it, you’ve got a taste for it, you want some loopback cotton in your wardrobe. Like when you go on a brewery tour and by the end of it you would kill your beloved family pet for a pint. We’ve got plenty of the good stuff for you.
