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Cloth

Silk, cotton, and modal

What the common fibres do against the skin, and how to wash them.

Cotton

Cotton is breathable, easy to wash, and absorbs moisture well, which is also why it dries slowly. Jersey cotton with a little elastane holds its shape better than cotton alone. Longer-staple cottons feel smoother and generally pill less.

Modal and lyocell

Both are made from wood pulp, and both feel smoother and cooler than ordinary cotton. They hold dye well and drape softly, so they are common in everyday underwear and sleepwear. They can lose shape if washed hot.

Silk

Silk is light and holds little odour, and it feels cool at first touch and warm after. It marks with water and perspiration, and strong detergents and hot water dull it. A heavier silk, stated in momme where a shop gives the number, usually wears longer than a very fine one.

Washing

The care label decides. As a general habit: fasten hooks so they cannot catch, wash delicates in a mesh bag on a cool cycle, skip the fabric softener, which coats elastic, and keep elastic away from the tumble dryer.

In the shops

Sleepwear in the shops

See all in the shop