Abacus Careerwear: Resource Centre

Fabric Technology

We always choose the best fabric for the job, which varies according to the service our client, provides, and the environment in which their staff work. We use only high quality fabrics, and are always keen to take advantage of the latest in fabric technology.

Our descriptions below show some of the features & benefits of those fabrics, and the uses we put them to.

Polyester and Cotton | Wool, Lycra® and Polyester fabrics
Crepe de Chine | Pontella | Coolskyn® | Denim

Polyester and Cotton

Polyester is a synthetic fibre. The main characteristics of Polyester are that it does not crease or wrinkle. In addition, Polyester does not shrink, it washes and dries easily and quickly, and it is easy to care for.

Cotton is a natural fibre which has been spun, woven, and dyed since prehistoric times. Cotton even clothed the people of ancient India , Egypt , and China . The manufacture of Cotton cloth involves many processes which transform raw fibre into yarn or thread strong enough for weaving.

A Polyester Cotton blend is a versatile shirt / blouse fabric which is both comfortable (Cotton) and durable & easy care (Polyester)

Case Studies:
Cowshed »
Co-op »

Wool, Lycra® and Polyester fabrics

Wool is a natural fibre made from the fleece of the sheep . Wool fabrics are elastic, strong and are crease resistant. Wool is also highly absorbent and releases moisture slowly.

Lycra ® is a brand of Spandex - a synthetic fibre, used in the manufacture of elastic clothing.

This mixture of 3 yarns is ideal for use in suits as the Wool provides comfort & luxury, the Lycra® provides the stretch and the Polyester provides the durability.

Case Studies:
Mamas & Papas »
Football Association »
Midsummer Place »

Crepe de Chine

Crepe de Chine is 100% Polyester. It is very easy to care for, because it can be drip-dried, and does not crease. It is also durable and long lasting because its colour-fast properties ensure it does not fade over time.

Additionally it is lightweight and soft in texture, which makes it very comfortable for the wearer, especially in a warm or climate controlled environment.

Finally, because it drapes well it is generally a flattering fabric to use when dressing people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

Case Study:
Althams Travel »

Pontella

Clothing made with Pontella® avoids all the usual problems associated with casual-wear. There is no colour fading, shrinkage or pilling. Additionally it is breathable, non-crease and fast drying making it comfortable to wear and easy to care for. A multifilament yarn, it has the soft, pliable texture of a natural fibre, even though it is made from 100% polyester, and what makes it extra special is the fact that it is ‘breathable’. This means it is designed to wick perspiration away from the skin to leave the wearer dry and comfortable however active they are - a benefit that is ideal for those working in a leisure centre or gym environment.

How Pontella® fabric ‘breathes’

1. The fabric is designed so that vapor molecules (formed as the skin begins to perspire) can escape through tiny pores in its inner lining. Then, the larger water molecules they form on the other side are too big to re-enter the fabric. Even as the garment itself becomes wet, perspiration is not trapped between the wearer’s skin and the fabric.
2. The inner face of the fabric thus prevents the feeling of coldness which occurs as perspiration cools against the skin, and so avoids the resulting shivering and chills.
3. No matter how wet the garment becomes, it will not stick to the skin - providing complete comfort and freedom of movement.

Drying Time
Pontella dries very quickly and easily, in on average 17 minutes vs. 37 minutes for Cotton and 25.5 minutes for Polyester and Cotton
All this and sun protection too
Due to increasing awareness of the potential risks of the sun’s harmful rays, all our Pontella® Polos™ are certified to a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30+.

Case Studies:
Avenance »
Ryesport »

Coolskyn®

Coolskyn® is high performance Polyester that has been developed specifically for garments worn by active people or people working in warm environments.

Comfort
Coolskyn® will keep the wearer dry, cool and comfortable. No matter how damp, Coolskyn’s superb wicking & breathable qualities prevents the garment from adhering to the wearer’s skin; this expels the feeling of coldness and provides wearer comfort and freedom of movement during all working conditions & climates

Low Maintenance
Coolskyn® garments are designed for low maintenance and can be both domestically and industrially laundered; this includes commercial disinfecting and washing up to 75°C and a cool down process, lending the garment for use in food hygiene environments.

Sun Protection
Coolskyn® garments offer protection from UV rays with a certified UPF 50+; this is the highest level of protection that a fabric can provide the skin from sun induced damage.
Coolskyn® blocks 98% of UV radiation.

Long Lasting
The properties of Coolskyn®, such as Colour Fastness, Non Shrink at 65 and 75 degrees, and Resistance to Pilling, mean that in demanding environments the performance and appearance of the garment is maintained throughout its useful life.

Case Studies:
The Works »

Denim

Denim is a coarse twilled cloth, usually cotton, traditionally used for jeans, overalls, and work uniforms.

One school of thought is that denim cloth was invented in the town of Nîmes, France, hence ‘de Nîmes’ (meaning from Nîmes). It was known in France even before the 17th Century.

Denim moved across the Atlantic Ocean in the late 1700s and American mills started to produce their own denim fabric. American President George Washington toured a Massachusetts factory in the 1780s and was shown the machinery that wove this fabric. That same year, one of the first printed references to the word "denim" in the United States appeared in a Rhode Island newspaper.

Denim, at that time, was reserved for work clothes, when both durability and comfort were needed. After World War II, denim pants became less about work wear and more closely aligned with the leisure time of 1950’s America, and it was around this time that Levi Strauss & Co. began selling its products nationally.

Denim and its texture are still ideal for a more contemporary and informal work wear style. We have been able to source a denim which does not shrink or fade, thereby ensuring durability and consistency across staff.

Case Study:
Clarks 2002 »

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