Designed in by a British textile owner, picked up in the s by sportswear manufacturers and a popular item in the fashion world for years now: mesh fabric. It is elastic, extremely strong, breathable and… indispensable for every clothing designer. In this blog we will take a closer look at mesh fabric. What kind of fabric is mesh? What characteristics does it have and what can you as a designer do with it?
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Mesh is a light woven fabric with a mesh-like look. The fabric was once designed by a textile owner who was looking for a product that is breathable and can withstand extreme temperature changes. He produced the fabric with looms in such a way that open spaces were created between the yarns. The result? A fabric that is very breathable. Mesh fabric initially caught the eye of sportswear manufacturers, but due to the many improvements in recent years, it is now also popular in the fashion industry and the medical industry.
Mesh fabric is usually made from polyester, nylon or spandex. These are synthetic materials that last a very long time. In addition, mesh can be made of metal to give the fabric a shiny appearance.
Although all mesh fabrics have the same mesh-like structure, they can differ in weight, thickness, color and finish. In addition, the material is available with fine or coarser holes.
Due to its breathability, mesh is ideal for making sportswear, dancewear and shoes. But the substance has more special characteristics. That's how it is:
The above characteristics also make mesh fabric extremely suitable for designing leggings, tunics and lingerie.
Although mesh is a strong fabric, it must be handled carefully. Do not wash the fabric too often and preferably not warmer than 30 degrees. Let it dry naturally and do not iron the fabric. Do you want to iron it? Then iron the fabric at a low temperature.
Due to the transparent, mesh-like look, mesh fabric is ideal to combine with other, non-transparent fabrics. In addition, the fabric is quite easy to cut and sew. Do you want to use mesh to design your clothing? Then we would like to share a few useful tips:
House of U is a supporter of "slow fashion": fashion made for people and the environment. The mesh fabric in our range, the U-Circular Mesh, is therefore made of 90 percent recycled polyester. This polyester is called Rpet and is made from used and collected PET bottles.
Rpet is just as good as regular polyester, but requires less raw materials to be produced. As a designer, if you value a sustainable world, the U-Circular Mesh is the mesh fabric for you.
As a designer you want to give your collection a personal touch. Mesh fabric is perfect for designing unique fashion items. For example, print the fabric with your own print. This is easy with our design generator. Upload your personal design and House of U will do the rest: we print your design from one meter in our digital textile printing company.
Mesh fabrics, also known as netting, can be designed and manufactured in an almost unlimited variety of shapes and sizes with uniform openings, allowing for lightweight breathability and enormous versatility. One key advantage is their strength-to-weight ratio, which enables them to be remarkably lightweight yet rugged, tear-resistant, and indispensable across many industries.
Mesh fabric is not just a textile but a versatile solution to many practical needs. From personal insect protection that allows the skin to breathe to military tactical vests that reduce precious weight from a soldier’s load, mesh or netting fabric serves various end uses. Understanding the properties of different fabrics and their applications ensures you can choose the suitable textile for your needs.
Netting or mesh fabrics have an open knit pattern that creates a network of evenly spaced gaps or holes that can be fine or coarse, depending on the fabric’s design—a mesh construction results in a breathable, lightweight fabric for ventilation applications. The fabric can differ in weight, thickness, color, and finish.
Mesh can be rigid, stretchy, or something in between. Polyester or nylon is often used for rigid mesh properties. We offer a combination of stretch nylons and polyesters with a balance of properties. Fabric can also be made with polyester/spandex, nylon/spandex yarns, or elastomultiester yarns for even greater stretch and recovery properties.
Are you interested in learning more about what is mesh material? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Along with breathability, mesh fabric can be designed and manufactured with large hole sizes that offer high visibility, making it easy to see through. The increased transparency makes this material a preferred choice for applications that include:
Car seat pockets like the one above are made of mesh fabric.
Mesh fabric can contain different yarns with various tensile strengths to meet the application’s needs. These yarns include polyester and nylon. The chosen options will impact the fabric’s load-supporting ability, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).
The flexible construction allows product engineers to adapt the mesh fabric to the strength required by the application. For example, some yarn offers high strength-to-weight ratios, making it ideal for manufacturing durable sporting goods and protective wear.
If you are purchasing high-quality mesh or netting fabric, look for these features:
Various types of mesh fabrics are available. For example, mainstream options include tulle and a heavy-weight mesh suitable for military MOLLE vests. Tulle is a soft, delicate, light netting fabric made from man-made fibers such as polyester and nylon and is often used in wedding veils and gowns.
More durable options include mosquito netting, medical mesh, support garments/braces and spacer mesh for contract furniture and consumer goods.
The most commonly available mesh fabrics are made of synthetic yarn knitted into a mesh pattern. Knitting involves interlocking the yarns together, which enhances the capabilities of the final fabric and allows it to meet stringent requirements for various industries.
Additional benefits of polyester mesh include:
Nylon is a synthetic polymer with high tensile strength, excellent resistance to wear and tear, and good elastic qualities. It is made from nylon fibers derived from petroleum products. Nylon mesh is known for its strength, resilience and elasticity.
There are various types of nylon depending on their chemical synthesis, and are classified according to the number of carbon atoms per molecule:
You may hear the term power mesh or power net in mesh fabrics. Power mesh is a specialized fabric with superior durability, support, and elasticity. It is soft, lightweight, and has four-way stretch. The open structure offers excellent comfort, making it a good choice for shapewear and compression garments.
Specific power mesh applications include:
Apex Mills offers lightweight, tear-resistant netting and mesh fabric favored by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Our selection includes flame-retardant nylon mesh, stretch nylon, and elastomeric fabrics. When you partner with Apex Mills, you can expect the following innovative approach:
Netting and mesh fabrics have multiple applications and benefits across diverse industries, including medical, military, apparel, contract furniture, and industrial sectors. Their versatility and customizable characteristics will continue to drive innovation, leading to new uses and advancements.
The company is the world’s best mesh fabric uses supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.