In the textile industry, cloth could be the collective term for fabrics and materials used in the production of clothing. Raw fibres go through a procedure to be twisted together to create threads. These threads are then woven or knit to make a workable material which will then be cut, stitched and turned into garments.
Fibres can be either synthetic or natural, with the most common natural fibre being cotton and the most used synthetic fibres being polyester. Each type of fibre is exclusive and bares different properties; some are sturdy and thick while others are smooth and flexible. Fibres are often combined together into blends giving a combination of desirable qualities.
The applying of the clothing determines which kind of fibre is used. For instance a football shirt could be better suited being produced from a synthetic fibre with moisture wicking qualities, than from a product like wool which retains heat.
What Is Fabric GSM?
GSM (also called GM/2) is definitely an abbreviation of “Grams per Square Metre” and could be the metric where fabric is weighed. GSM relates to thickness, and generally speaking the heavier the weight, the thicker the fabric will be. With however however, as a result of varying weights of different fibres, the GSM cannot accurately determine the thickness in mm of a fabric.
No item includes a “standard” GSM, however because GSM is a unit of weight, it can determine the application form of a fabric.
Because heavier weight fabrics use more raw fibre and have a longer weaving time, they do cost more than lower weight equivalents. It's also worth noting that GSM can be measured in Imperial units – ounces (oz) in particular. It is possible to convert between gsm and oz however; for example, a 6oz fabric is equivalent to 203gsm.
Traditionally some fabrics, denim for example, are weighed in ounces, but GSM is the present day standard for fabric weight measurement.
As a real world scenario, t-shirts are commonly created from fabrics weighing between 160 and 220gsm, with a 160gsm fabric being the thinner and more lightweight version compared to 220gsm option. Some fashion trends require a weightier weight, whilst practical applications like gym and fitness wear would see a lighter weight fabric being more desirable.