What is fabric weight and how is it measured?
Fabric weight is how heavy the fabric of the garment is, and is measured in grams per square meter (GSM).
What properties affect fabric weight?
The main properties that change the weight of a fabric are the density of the weave and the thickness of the cloth.
How does this affect my suit choice?
The GSM is the best indicator of the warmth of a fabric. For example, if you lived in Alaska you would probably get more use from a heavyweight fabric in winter than a lightweight fabric, and if you lived in Miami you would likely get more use from a lightweight fabric in summer than a heavyweight fabric.
What are the ranges of the different weights?
Lightweight - <250GSM, this is the lighter end of our fabrics. Typically we would recommend these for summer wear as they will be finer and more breathable. As these are thinner fabrics by nature, they can appear slightly sheer, particularly if they are unlined.
Midweight - 250-300GSM, this is your go-to range, great for year-round wear. If you need just one suit, it should be in this range.
Heavyweight ->300GSM, this is the heavier end of our range. We would recommend these for use in fall and winter, especially if you live in a cooler climate. Typically fabrics of this weight are brushed fabrics like flannel.
What is INDOCHINO's range of fabric weights?
Our fabrics range from 225GSM-390GSM so we have you covered for any eventuality! Here is an article with a comprehensive list of our fabrics and their GSMs.
