Fabric Guide

Fabric shapes how a garment feels, moves, and ages. This guide covers every material we use at Florimay, so you know what to expect before you buy and how to care for each piece once it's yours.

Merino Wool

  • Feel: Fine, soft next to skin, naturally temperature-regulating and odor-resistant.
  • Best for: Lightweight knits, base layers, and transitional-season sweaters.
  • Care: Hand wash cold or use the wool cycle with pH-neutral detergent. Lay flat to dry. Airing between wears is often enough; frequent washing shortens fiber life.

Cashmere

  • Feel: Exceptionally soft and lightweight with gentle warmth; develops a subtle halo over time.
  • Best for: Investment sweaters, scarves, and refined knitwear.
  • Care: Hand wash with cashmere shampoo, reshape flat, and store folded (never hung). De-pill gently with a cashmere comb every few wears.

Durability note: With correct care, quality cashmere lasts 10+ years. Avoid abrasive bag straps and rough outerwear linings that accelerate pilling.

Wool Blends

  • Feel: Structured with more resilience than pure wool; the hand depends on the blend partner (cotton for breathability, cashmere for softness, nylon for strength).
  • Best for: Tailored coats, trousers, and everyday knits that need to hold their shape.
  • Care: Dry clean tailored pieces; machine wash wool-cotton blends on cold, gentle.

Cotton

  • Feel: Breathable, soft, and absorbent; softens further with each wash.
  • Best for: Shirts, tees, poplin dresses, and warm-weather separates.
  • Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low or line dry to minimize shrinkage. Iron while slightly damp for a crisp finish.

Organic Cotton

  • Feel: Comparable to conventional cotton, often with a slightly fuller, less processed hand.
  • Best for: Everyday basics where fiber provenance matters.
  • Care: Same as cotton. Grown without synthetic pesticides and certified to GOTS or OCS standards throughout our supply chain.

Linen

  • Feel: Cool, crisp, textured; relaxes and softens with wear. Natural creasing is part of the character.
  • Best for: Summer shirts, trousers, and unstructured dresses.
  • Care: Machine wash cold on gentle, line dry. Iron damp if you prefer a smoother finish. Expect 3-5% shrinkage on first wash.

Silk: Mulberry and Charmeuse

  • Feel: Mulberry silk is smooth, lustrous, and strong; charmeuse is a satin weave with a high-shine face and matte back, noticeably fluid on the body.
  • Best for: Blouses, slip dresses, scarves, and lining.
  • Care: Hand wash cold with silk detergent or dry clean. Avoid direct sunlight when drying; iron on low from the reverse.

Modal and Viscose Blends

  • Feel: Silky, drapey, and breathable; holds color well.
  • Best for: Fluid dresses, wide-leg pants, and drapey blouses.
  • Care: Machine wash cold on delicate, line dry. Wet fibers are weaker than cotton, so avoid wringing.

Cotton-Modal Knit

  • Feel: Softer and smoother than pure cotton jersey with better drape and reduced pilling.
  • Best for: Elevated tees, loungewear, and layering pieces.
  • Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Resists shrinkage better than 100% cotton.

Recycled Polyester

  • Feel: Smooth and lightweight with good shape retention; we use it primarily in linings, technical outerwear, and performance blends.
  • Best for: Weather-resistant jackets, activewear, and structured linings.
  • Care: Machine wash cold with a microfiber-catching bag to reduce fiber shedding. Tumble dry low or hang dry.

Leather: Full-Grain and Nappa

  • Feel: Full-grain is firm with visible natural markings and develops a rich patina; nappa is softer, smoother, and more supple, often used for garments and gloves.
  • Best for: Jackets, bags, and accessories meant to last decades.
  • Care: Wipe with a dry cloth after wear. Condition every 3-6 months. Keep away from prolonged sun and direct heat; store stuffed and on padded hangers.

Suede

  • Feel: Soft, napped surface with a matte, velvety hand.
  • Best for: Jackets, skirts, and shoes for dry conditions.
  • Care: Brush with a suede brush to restore nap; treat with a waterproofing spray before first wear. Blot spills immediately and avoid wearing in heavy rain.

Our Fabric Philosophy

We choose fabrics by how they perform over years, not seasons. That means prioritizing natural and certified fibers, running wear and wash tests before production, and being transparent about blends when a synthetic genuinely improves durability or function. Cared for correctly, every material in this guide is designed to stay in your wardrobe and out of landfill.