What is Fabric GSM: Effects on Fabric Design and Functionality

When you’re thinking about designing a garment, your fabric selection is an extremely important decision. Not only does it impact the look of your design, but it also greatly affects the functionality and feel of your finished product.

One key factor to consider is GSM weight also known as grams per square meter. All fabrics have a specific GSM weight that determines the heaviness and thickness of the material, which in turn affects how the fabric feels and performs as part of your garment.

Similarly, fabric texture is also an essential consideration when designing apparel. Depending on what type of look or feeling you’re trying to achieve with your design, you’ll need to choose between a variety of textures such as smooth, sheer, woolen and more.

In this article, we’ll break down all the ways that GSM weight and fabric texture influence a garment’s design and functionality. Let’s get started!

What Is GSM Weight?

GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measurement of the weight (mass) of fabric. By knowing the GSM of a fabric, you can determine its thickness, lightweightness, and durability. All these important factors considered when deciding which fabrics to use in garment design.

For example, a lightweight fabric with a GSM of 90-130 is best suited for summer apparel like blouses and t-shirts. Whereas a heavier fabric with a GSM of 200-300 is more suited for jackets and coats that need to provide insulation from the cold weather.

The texture of the fabric can also affect garment design. A smooth texture gives garments an elegant look while a rougher texture can give a more rugged esthetic. And depending on the type of garment you’re creating (dressy vs casual) you would choose different types of textures for your garments.

By understanding GSM weights and the different textures available for your fabrics, you are able to make better decisions when it comes to designing and constructing garments that have both form and function.

Factors Influencing GSM Weight

These are some factors which are influencing GSM weight

Yarn Thickness And Structure:

GSM weight is an important factor to consider when designing a garment. It affects how the fabric feels and performs, whether it’s light and airy or heavy and durable. The type of fiber used, the thickness of yarns, and the structure of the fabric all play a role in determining GSM weight. For example, fabrics made with thicker yarns generally have higher GSM weights than those made with thinner yarns.

Fabric Types:

Fabrics can be divided into two broad categories: woven fabrics and knitted fabrics. Woven fabrics are created by interlacing lengths of yarns or threads at right angles. Knitted fabrics are made of interlocking loops of yarns. So, knit fabrics tend to have higher GSM weights than woven fabrics due to their looped structure.

Read also: Importance of Fabric Selection in Fashion Product development

Fabric Texture:

Different textures affect how a garment looks and feels when worn. Texture also influences GSM weight and has an impact on garment design decisions. Consider a cashmere sweater: its luxurious feel comes from its silky smooth texture but also from its higher GSM weight which provides comfort and warmth on cooler days. On the other hand, a lightweight cotton poplin shirt has lower GSM weight and a crisper texture which gives it body and stiffness, making it ideal for formalwear or jackets.

The combination of GSM weight and texture provide garments with many characteristics that can be customized according to individual needs such as breathability, durability, warmth so that no matter what you’re looking for in your next piece of clothing, understanding fabric construction will guide you in the right direction!

Garments Design Considerations

By Using Different GSM Weights

When it comes to garment design, there are some things to consider when using different GSM weights. Every fabric carries a unique weight, drape and texture, which has an impact on how a garment looks when it is made. Whether you’re designing a dress shirt, dress pants, or a jacket for the season, understanding fabric GSM weight and texture is key to ensuring the garment functions properly. Here are some design considerations when choosing fabrics with different GSM weights:

Lightweight Fabrics:

The GSM (grams per square meter) weight of a fabric refers to its weight per square meter, and it’s important because it affects how the fabric drapes and hangs. Lightweight fabric usually has a lower GSM rating than heavyweight fabric; the higher the GSM rating, the denser the knit or weave. Lightweight fabrics with GSM weights ranging from 50-150 are the perfect choice for garments that call for extra movement, such as blouses and skirts. Low GSM fabrics are best for summers. This weight is also ideal for scarves and shawls that require more airiness and movement.

Medium-Weight Fabrics:

Medium-weight fabrics with GSM weights ranging from 160-250 are the go to choice for structured garments like jackets and trousers. This medium weight and texture provides a sturdy drape with enough body to give your garment structure while maintaining comfort at the same time.

Heavyweight Fabrics:

Heavyweight fabrics with GSM weights ranging from 300-600 provide extra warmth and insulation as well as an extra dose of durability. These fabrics work well for winter jackets and coats that need more structure but still require warmth. Heavyweight fabrics also provide more body which can help create fuller silhouettes on garments such as maxi skirts or trousers.

Effect of GSM on Fabric Performance

When you’re choosing fabrics for your garments, performance should be of utmost importance. After all, you’re designing products that need to function well based on their intended use. So let’s dive into how fabric GSM weight and texture can influence garment design and functionality.

GSM Weight for activewear or outerwear

GSM stands for grams per square meter and simply means the weight of the fabric material itself. Generally speaking, when it comes to performance based garments like activewear or outerwear, you’ll want to opt for a heavier GSM weight fabric as this provides two main advantages like sturdiness and protection from external elements such as wind and rain.

Fabric Texture

Fabric texture is closely linked to garment performance in other ways too. For example, if you’re looking for apparel that won’t cling to the body during movement, then a texture like a twill weave will provide extra comfort due to its smoother surface. Bulky fabrics like wool or fleece are also great at insulating while nylon is lightweight yet strong enough to be tear-resistant so it’s perfect for more active pursuits such as skiing or running.

Read also: Textile Testing: Benefits Types and Tools

Overall, careful consideration must be taken when selecting the right fabric for any given garment as it has a direct influence on how these pieces will perform in terms of comfortability and protection from external elements so take your time when deciding!

How to Ensure Consistency in Fabric Weights

When it comes to garment design, fabric weights and textures are important factors that you need to consider. Here’s how keeping fabric weights consistent across different fabrics can help improve the overall design of your garments.

Knowing Your Fabric Weights

Fabric GSM (grams per square meter) is the standard measurement for fabric weights, and it can tell you how heavy or light a certain fabric is. This measurement determines things like drapiness, stiffness, warmth and breathability of a garment. It’s important to find out the GSM weight of the fabric you’re working with before starting the design process.

Maintaining Consistency in Fabric Weights

In order to ensure consistency in fabric weight across all your garments, you should aim to have fabrics with similar levels of GSM throughout. Variations in texture and weight can make different parts of your garment look disproportionate or unbalanced—which would undermine the overall look and feel of the garment upon completion.

Getting this right means really understanding which elements need additional support (like using heavier fabrics for areas that are prone to wear) or additional flexibility (such as using lighter fabrics for areas that need more stretch). By doing so, you’ll end up with a finished piece whose design will be consistent from top to bottom.

Conclusion

To conclude, fabric GSM weight and texture have a strong influence in garment design and functionality. When choosing the right fabric for a garment, you should consider factors such as fabric weight, texture, fineness, drape, and durability, as they all contribute to the overall look and function of the clothing.

Fabric GSM weight and texture need to be taken into consideration from the initial design process. By understanding the influence of fabric weight and texture on the design of the garment, you can create something that looks great and is comfortable to wear. It is also important to consider the environment when selecting fabrics that are sustainable and have a minimal environmental impact for the best results.