Fabric development
We specialise in developing all kinds of fabrics.
Not finding what you are looking for on this website? Request it. Send us a swatch, a photo or an old specification sheet, and we will develop or source the fabric to your GSM, width, thickness and shade.
What we develop
Broadly, anything woven, knitted or coated
We are not limited to what one mill makes, so we can put the right fabric in front of you rather than the nearest thing in stock.
Woven fabrics
Shirting, suiting, uniform cloth, linings, pocketing, dobby, oxford, canvas, duck and blends of every kind.
Knitted fabrics
Single and double jersey, interlock, rib, fleece, raised and brushed knits, tricot and warp knits, stretch knits.
Rexine and coated
Base fabrics for coating, and finished PVC and PU coated fabrics and synthetic leather.
Technical and industrial
Filter fabrics, industrial canvas, and water-repellent, flame-retardant or UV-treated constructions.
Finishes
Dyeing to shade, printing, peach and brushed finishes, softeners, coating, calendering and more.
Imported fabrics
Constructions from China, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan, handled by our imports desk.
How it works
Five steps, and you can stop at any of them
- 01
Send what you have
A physical swatch is best. A clear photo with a ruler in frame, an old spec sheet or a finished product all work. WhatsApp is the fastest route.
- 02
We identify it
We work out the construction: fibre, weave or knit, count, weight, width and finish, and tell you what it is.
- 03
We quote against it
Price, quantity, lead time and route, domestic or imported, against your requirement.
- 04
You approve a sample
Nothing goes into bulk until you have approved a physical sample, and a lab dip for dyed shades.
- 05
Production and supply
Bulk is made against the approved sample, and repeat orders are held to the same specification.
What to tell us
Four figures, plus quantity and use
You do not need all of them. The more we have up front, the fewer rounds it takes.
- Weight
GSM or per metre
Any weight. Give us the figure, or send the cloth and we measure it.
- Width
Any width
In inches or centimetres. Tell us whether it is greige or finished width.
- Thickness
In mm
Stated and held wherever your coating, cutting or stitching depends on it.
- Colour
Dyed or greige
Dyed to your swatch or Pantone with a lab dip first, or supplied greige.
Questions
Fabric development, frequently asked
What quantity do you need to develop a fabric?
It depends on the construction and the process route: a mill has a minimum run for setting up a loom, a knitting machine or a dye batch. Tell us your quantity at the start and we will tell you straight away whether the route exists, including when it can be added to another production run.
Do you charge for identifying a fabric?
No. Send a swatch and we will tell you what it is, whether or not you order from us.
How close a match can you get?
For most woven and knitted fabrics, very close: construction and weight can be matched closely, and shade is matched against a physical swatch with a lab dip for approval. Where we cannot match something, we say so plainly.
How long does development take?
Identification and a quotation are quick once we have the swatch. Production time depends on the process route, and imported fabric adds shipping and clearance. You get the timeline before you commit.
Next step
Send the swatch. We will tell you what it is either way.
Identification is free, whether or not you order from us, and a quotation follows within 1 working day.