In modern textile catalogs one can often see exotic novelties with attractive names: Devore, Cupra, Chiffon Dillon. Acquainted with one of them - lacoste fabric.
What does lacoste fabric look like?
The description of the fabric from one catalog of clothes sounds like this: "knitted fabric with warp, octagonal or other weaving." In fact, everything is simpler. This fabric was probably seen by many: it’s just loose knitwear, more airy and lighter than usual, reminiscent of a waffle fabric or mesh. It can be very dense, hard, and can be soft and airy. You can sew any light clothing from this fabric, but it is already so strongly associated with sports that it is most often used to make dresses and polo shirts, tracksuits.
Lacoste fabric and pique: what is the difference?
There is no difference between these two types of fabrics . One name is more official, and the other is popular. In Western catalogs one can often even find such a description of the material: “LACOSTE PIQUE” (lacoste pique). Having become acquainted with the properties of piquet fabric, you will learn everything about lacoste fabric, which, incidentally, is also called lightweight French knitwear. The word "pique" is derived from the French piquer (prostrate). So-called knitted fabric with a complex weave. It doesn’t matter what material it was made from: natural cotton or synthetics. Although in the early twentieth century, synthetic fibers were just beginning to appear. The interweaving could be different: in the form of rhombs, hexagons, squares. One of the varieties of pique is widespread and familiar wafer fabric. There are species with scars. There is a pique for making children's clothes and a dense pique with a pile. This type of fabric is characterized by increased strength. It can be machine washed. Also, thanks to the structure, it almost does not crease.
But why was the piquet fabric called lacoste?
A new life began when the famous tennis player, Rene Lacoste, decided to create a new, more convenient form for sports. Before that, the tennis players looked very elegant. But, alas, the long sleeves of a traditional shirt had to be rolled up, and the dense inelastic fabric fettered movement. For his model, Lacoste chose a light and comfortable cotton pique, which nevertheless held its shape. He demonstrated the novelty in 1926 at one of the championships. The public liked the new shirt, especially the athletes, who immediately began to adopt a new comfortable style. The most enthusiastic was the polo players. And with the growing democratization of society and the desire of young people for freedom, polo shirts, and with it the peak, have become popular all over the world. Today, Lacoste polo shirts are considered to be elite in their class and very popular. This is probably why the pique fabric characteristic of these shirts has acquired another name among the people - “lacoste fabric”.
Structure
According to some sources, the lacoste fabric is a knitwear with a special weave that avoids losing shape or the appearance of spools. It is made exclusively from natural cotton. Other sources say that it consists of cotton, polyester and rayon. And this is also lacoste fabric. The description in the third source unequivocally indicates that this is the cheapest fabric of all possible: it consists of 100% polyester. In fact, there is no confusion. Sellers and buyers often say "lacoste fabric", but mean pique - the type of weaving of a knitted fabric, which, as you know, can be made from a wide variety of fibers: cotton, wool, half-woolen, viscose, silk, nylon, etc.
Cotton, Wool, Corn
There is a lacoste fabric "corn". In fact, this is the same knitted pique that is made from corn fibers. Despite the fact that this material is natural in origin, it undergoes such changes in the manufacturing process that it can be considered synthetic. However, all the same, in the end, it remains environmentally friendly. The
production process
is simplified as follows: dextrose is extracted from corn, then it is fermented and lactic acid is obtained, from which water is subsequently removed and fibers are made. The fabric is unusually soft, elastic. But this is not all of its virtues. It absorbs moisture perfectly, while it dries in a matter of moments. The corn fabric is dyed in the brightest juicy colors - it does not fade over time, even if it is constantly exposed to the sun. Even allergy sufferers can wear this fabric, and the choice of products that can be sewn from it is very wide: suits, dresses, blouses, skirts, hats. Lacosta "corn" has not yet gained wide popularity, but only because it did not have time. This material is eco-friendly and comfortable, like natural fibers such as silk, cotton or wool. Moreover, it has a low price, easy to care for, like synthetic fabrics.
Lacoste fabric quality
As mentioned above, if we mean lacoste fabric only the pique knitwear from which the things of the famous Lacoste brand are sewn, then yes - this is really high-quality elite knitwear, magnificent in wear and operation, not wrinkling and not losing shape. But if by the name “lacoste” we mean only the type of interweaving of the threads of the material, then the quality of the fabric will be completely different. Pay attention to the composition: polyester,
mixed fabric, cotton, which cotton? It is on this that the properties that the lacoste fabric has depend on. Does such material stretch or not? In general, the pique is a rather dense and durable fabric that keeps its shape perfectly (remember the strict collars of polo shirts). But the peak can be very different in density. The most dense species - quite hard to the touch, stretch only with effort. The thinner the pique, the more it looks like a regular knitwear that stretches well in width. But nevertheless, piqué is a looser material, therefore soft-fitting but not tight-fitting things are usually sewn from it. Today, there are options for pique with elastane - more plastic. They are quite suitable for sewing light summer dresses, tunics, blouses, skirts and children's clothing.
So, lacoste fabric, French knitwear, pique knitwear - three names for the same material, which can be so different in their properties that the three names are clearly not enough.