Gabardine is a tightly woven, durable fabric usually made from wool but rayon and polyester gabardine can also be found. It is identified by the diagonal ribbing that resembles twill on one side and a smooth finish on the other side. Most often associated with menswear such as suits, slacks and coats, gabardine fabric has many other uses as well.
Gabardine is a very durable fabric due to the tightly woven threads. This makes it a good choice for use in children’s clothing. A young man’s suit or dress slacks made from gabardine fabric would be able to stand up to rambunctious wear and tear. Using white gabardine fabric to make a child’s baptismal outfit or first communion suit would help preserve this special outfit for future generations to use.
Uniforms made from gabardine can withstand the daily washings and wear and tear associated with jobs requiring a uniform. Gabardine can even be used to make children’s school uniforms.
Just as men’s gabardine suits hang and wear beautifully, so can clothes made for women. Gabardine is available in many colors. In fact, the lighter colors such as white or tan highlight the ribbing affect so often associated with gabardine fabric. Therefore, a suit, slacks or even a raincoat made from gabardine fabric can be feminine and beautiful.