Content

You can think of fabric content as like an ingredient list for the material.   As the mix changes so does the fabric’s performance and feel.  There are countless combinations, but below are the three key players in chef uniforms.

100% Cotton: It means just that, all of the fibers used in manufacturing the material started out as fluffy puffs of cotton.  Where a crop is grown, how it is processed and finished all effect the end result.

The highest quality cottons; Pima, Egyptian, and fine fine are all known for their soft, supple, almost silky finish because the plant itself yields extra long silky fibers and those properties carry through to the finished product.   As luxurious as this high quality cotton is, it is not as durable as its heartier cousin (often called “cotton twill”), so keep this in mind when buying 100% fine line cotton.  It will look and feel fantastic, but it will not hold up as well under the rigors of a lifetime in a kitchen.

Many clothing manufactures today use the term “cotton twill” to describe 100% cotton twill fabric that is made with good quality fibers but is more durable than Fine Line.  “Cotton twill” has a nice soft feel to it, but does not have the slight shine that fine line cotton is known for.  Cotton has long been the first choice for chefs because in high heat situations it will not melt as 100% polyester can.

Reverse Blend: A reverse blend (sometimes called “Cotton Rich”) is a fabric that is composed of more cotton than polyester, such as the 60% cotton/40% polyester blend that we use in our Four-Star line of jackets and pants.  Reverse blends are good options for someone who is looking for fabric with the feel of cotton but the durability of polyester.  60/40 blends also tend to be more stain- and wrinkle-resistant and more colorfast than 100% cotton, but still have some of the softness and breathability of cotton.

Poly/Cotton Blend: Most often, a poly/cotton blend refers to a fabric that is made up of 65% polyester fibers and 35% cotton fibers.  Poly/Cotton blends are extremely durable and less expensive than 100% cotton, making them appealing to many segments of the uniform industry.  It can stand up to vigorous industrial washing and still come out looking good.  The heavy polyester content makes the fabric much more stain- and wrinkle-resistant than its cotton rich counterparts.  This bend has come a long way in the last 10 years and it is much softer and more comfortable to wear than it used to be.  Besides durability, one of the major benefits to a 65/35 blend is that we can offer garments in bold, bright colors without fear of them fading quickly because the poly/cotton combination is very colorfast.  Check out our Three-Star Plastic Button Jacket line for some great options.  Both reverse blends and poly/cotton blends are engineered to be safe in a high heat environment.  The upside to any poly blend is that polyester has natural stain-repellant properties, so any liquid that may spill on you is more likely to roll off instead of being absorbed (as with a 100% cotton fabric).