Traditional Waxed Cotton – Black

Traditional English waxed cotton.

Soft to the touch with a matt appearance, this is an original oil-skin designed to age and mark with wear, producing garments full of character. Apparel and accessories made with this material must be lined using fabric treated with an oil-resistant finish.

Wax is a ‘wet’ finish; it is not chemically fixed to the fabric. The wax is pressed into the cotton yarns under carefully controlled temperature and pressure. The surface of waxed cotton will mark and crease where handled and come off when scraped. These markings are not faults and are a normal, inherent characteristic of the finish. The oily feel of the fabric will also dry during garment fabrication, age and wear, leading to garments with an appearance unique to the individual wearer.

Some variation in the level of wax/greasiness may be felt between old and new deliveries; this is normal, as the wax does dry out slightly during fabrication and therefore new production will feel wetter.

Traditional waxed fabric garments, bags and accessories must be lined, and the lining needs to have an oil resistant finish. This will prevent migration of the wax onto the lining. All trims should also be treated.

Waxed fabrics cannot be exposed to heat, steam or ironed during garment manufacturing; doing so will lead to fabric discolouration as the wax will be dried by the heat.

Waxed fabrics should be stored away from direct sunlight, heat or high humidity. Avoid excessive moisture accumulation.

Some more tips for garment manufacturers:

Waxed fabrics are not suitable for use with fused interlining and stiffeners – the heat used in the garment manufacturing process will dry out the wax and discolour the fabric.
Avoid using cheap plastic zips, as they can contain pigments which are not colourfast and can discolour the wax fabric.
Avoid painted fasteners; the wax can affect the paint.
After completion of garment manufacturing, the machinery will need to be wiped down to avoid wax contaminating any following production.
Ensure that your selected garment manufacturer is familiar with wax and is aware that the fabric should feel greasy / wet.

Waxed fabric care instructions:

Do not wash, do not dry clean, do not tumble-dry
Do not iron
Do not bleach
Brush off mud when dry and sponge the area with cold water
Avoid contact with alcohol-based products, fabric softeners and solvent cleaners
Never use soap or detergents