While chamois cloth is a new material to most Americans, Chamois is an old material that has been used worldwide for centuries. Chamois was also known as “sha-mee,” and it was the traditional cleaning rag of European motorcyclists before modern cleaning materials were developed.
Chamois is a beautifully soft and thick material that has a rich history and interesting origins. It is being used more and more in modern fashion. However, not a lot of people know what this material is and how to take advantage of its qualities.
What is chamois cloth? Chamois cloth is a soft, thick, and highly absorbent type of leather. It is a multi-purpose fabric that can be blended with cotton or synthetic materials to make luxury garments similar to flannel, suede, and fleece.
If you are interested in finding out more about this material, let’s take a look at some basic facts about chamois, including its origins, properties, and how you can make use of chamois in your everyday life.
Everything You Need To Know About Chamois Cloth
Chamois (pronounced “sha-mee”) is a specific type of leather made from a breed of mountain antelope who are natives of the Pyrenees and other mountainous areas in Europe. In its early days, chamois was used to make gloves, hunting wear, and workwear.
Because of the need for mass production, the chamois that you use today probably came from goats or sheep raised in American farms. Nowadays, you can also find certain types of artificial chamois that are made from cotton or even synthetic materials as well.
Characteristics of Chamois Cloth
Chamois is a very soft and thick type of cloth fabric that is known for its super absorbent ability – it can absorb water that’s up to 5 times its weight. Because of how soft and non-abrasive the material is, it is most commonly used to polish cars/motorcycles, glass, wood, and even jewelry.
The chamois used in fashion is a little bit different than the type of cloth used to clean your car.
In fashion, chamois is a beautiful and luxurious type of fabric that is becoming more and more popular. Because of how soft and thick it is, you can make highly structured and beautiful garments that feel great against the skin.
Modern-day chamois can be made from cotton or even synthetic materials like polyester, with similar looks and feels and slightly varying degrees of softness and water-absorbency.
When cotton is used to make chamois, the cotton fibers have to go through several processing stages in order for the fabric to resemble the look and feel of chamois leather. Cotton chamois is often confused with flannel because of its similar looks and thickness.
Is Chamois Cloth The Same As Chamois Leather?
Chamois cloth is not actually made from chamois leather.
Most chamois cloths are made from cotton by treating the cotton fibers and loosely weaving the fibers together. Chamois cloth is designed to imitate the amazing qualities of chamois leather, which is why it took the same name.
Chamois cloth is very thick. It has the softness of a cloud but is still super strong and durable. Although its thickness makes chamois a preferred material when making workwear, its softness actually feels amazing against the skin – like something designed for children’s sensitive skin.
Because of how chamois is created, it is relatively more expensive than other types of microfiber cloths used in cleaning. In fashion, chamois is often confused with flannel, although chamois is far superior and a little bit more expensive than flannel.
Chamois Cloth Vs Flannel
Just to be clear, chamois is not flannel, although some varieties of chamois cloth looks a lot like flannel (for example, certain types of chamois cotton cloths). At first glance, you may think that chamois and flannel are the same thing. However, there are some key differences between the two materials.
Both flannel and chamois can be made of cotton, which is why a lot of people confuse the two. Cotton flannel and cotton chamois are different in the style of the weave, the thickness, softness, and overall texture of the fabric.
Although both flannel and chamois cloth are woven fabric, chamois is usually much softer and thicker than flannel. Chamois is super thick and durable and normally much heavier than flannel. It is highly water absorbent and has a lot of versatile use.
While you can tell right away that flannel is a woven material, you can’t normally tell with chamois. The cotton fibers are very tightly woven, and then it is napped and brushed, so you won’t be able to identify the weave pattern on either side of the fabric.
In this sense, chamois usually resembles the look of suede or fleece; you probably cannot tell that chamois is a woven fabric. Compared to cotton flannel, cotton chamois is usually thicker, softer, and with a more distinct texture.
Because this type of chamois is made out of cotton, it retains dye very well and is quite low maintenance. Compared to other natural materials, cotton chamois can be machine-washed and will retain its looks for a long time.
| Chamois | Flannel |
|---|---|
| Softer and thicker | Lightweight and breathable |
| Tightly woven | Loosely woven |
| Highly absorbent | Less absorbent |
| More expensive | Less expensive |
What is Flannel?
Flannel is traditionally made of wool, but nowadays, you can find flannel made from cotton or synthetic materials. It is a loosely woven fabric, and you can usually identify the pattern of the weave just by looking at the flannel.
Don’t confuse flannel with plaid – plaid is a pattern, while flannel is a type of woven fabric. Flannel may have a plaid pattern, but it can be plain as well.
Flannel is lightweight and very breathable, thanks to the woven structure. It is a beloved material, especially in the fall, because it is soft against the skin, offering warmth as well as breathability. Flannel is a great layering piece because it is not too warm and not too light.
Because it is loosely woven, it is a thinner fabric that drapes very well. Flannel shirts often hug your body quite comfortably, while flannel sheets and blankets are very flowy and soft.
In the winter months, flannel is a preferred material for pajamas and sheets. Cotton flannel is super soft and highly breathable, so you won’t have any problems surrounding yourself with flannel for 8+ hours when you lay in bed.
Cotton flannel sheets are quite cozy and soft. It is highly sweat-absorbent and breathable, ensuring that you will have a good night’s sleep with luxury comfort.
Compared to chamois, flannel is not as soft and thick and has far poorer water-absorbing abilities. This is one of the main reasons why chamois is usually more expensive than flannel.
Considerations When Using Chamois Cloth
Chamois has a lot of superior characteristics compared to flannel and other natural materials. However, depending on the intended use, you may or may not find chamois a worthwhile investment.
As mentioned above, chamois is a wonderfully soft and thick material.
Because of its durability, water-absorbent, and non-abrasive qualities, chamois cloths (like this one) are often used to polish luxury items like cars, wood, and jewelry.
When used in clothing, chamois feels amazing against the skin.
Chamois processing doesn’t require any harsh chemicals, so you can rest assured knowing that it’s one of the best materials for sensitive skin.
It is thick and offers a structured, polished look when it comes to making fashion garments.
However, compared to other materials, it can be a bit more expensive. If you are a fashion designer, you won’t get a lot of versatility from this material because it is quite inflexible, but for the right structured garment, it could be the perfect choice.
If you are a consumer, you may find chamois a bit difficult to care for. Both cotton chamois and chamois leather can shrink in the wash.
As with any other fabric, you should check the washing instructions before the first wash to make sure that you don’t make any mistakes that may damage this expensive material.
How to Care For Chamois
Caring for your chamois correctly will allow the fabric to maintain its looks and incredible properties.
If you have a genuine chamois leather cloth, you will need to take proper care of it so that it can stay fresh and useful for a long time. In this case, treat it as any other types of delicate wool items in your closet.
Cleaning Chamois
When you wash your chamois leather, make sure to use natural soap. Many people even use car wash shampoo, which would also work. You should hand wash the leather in warm water and rinse the leather thoroughly afterward so that there is no soap residue.
Make sure to never use bleach or detergents to wash your chamois leather. It will strip away the leather’s natural oil, which means your chamois won’t feel as plush or soft after washing.
After removing the chamois leather from the water, you can press the material to remove excess water. Don’t wring it, or it may tear the leather. Then, you can lay it out to dry.
Once the chamois leather is completely dry, it may feel a bit brittle or not as soft as the original cloth. In that case, you can rub the chamois over a hard surface to “blend” the fiber together, which will soften up the leather.
Storing Chamois Leather and Chamois Cloth
When your chamois leather is not in use, make sure to store it in a dry and cool place. Since chamois leather is highly absorbent, storing it in a humid place may not be a good idea. The chamois may absorb the humidity and attract mold.
You should always make sure your chamois leather is completely dry before putting it away. Many people even place it in a sealed bag to keep dirt and moisture away. Following these instructions will help your chamois leather stay new and useful for a long, long time.
Cotton Chamois Care
If you have a piece of cotton chamois, you don’t have to be as diligent about cleaning it, although we do advise hand washing (or at least using the delicate cycle) with a mild soap.
Because cotton can shrink in the wash, you should always use cold water and air dry your garment. Putting it in the dryer may shrink your garment significantly.
Since cotton chamois has similar absorbency characteristics, you should take the same caution when storing your chamois garments so that they don’t attract moisture and mold. That means making sure that the garment is completely dry before putting it away in a dry and cool storage area.
Uses For Chamois
Before you purchase chamois fabric for your next project, you may want to browse around and find some ideas about what type of projects usually employ chamois fabric. Below are some common uses of chamois.
1. Cleaning Cloths
Of course, when we say chamois cloths or shammy cloths, the first use that comes to mind is an incredible cleaning tool. Thanks to its ability to absorb moisture and clean without scratching, chamois cloths are often used to clean, dry and polish vehicles and jewelry.
2. Drawing Tools
Chamois cloths are also employed as “erasers” by artists drawing with charcoal. Since chamois is so soft and smooth, it allows the blending to appear softer and cleaner. Artists use chamois for wet finishing, buffing, and polishing. I like this chamois for polishing acrylic paintings and/or blending.
Chamois is also quite effective at removing charcoal or lightening charcoal drawings, creating light and dark effects.
3. Towels
Some professional divers and swimmers use chamois towels because they are amazingly absorbent and dry very quickly. If you need a highly effective towel, this is definitely the right material for it.
For normal use, chamois towels may not seem very practical because of how expensive it is. However, if you are a professional diver or swimmer, investing in a quality chamois towel may save you a lot of time and annoyance.
Chamois would also be a great travel towel, especially for backpackers and others on the move from hostel to hostel. It’s lightweight and will dry before you have to pack up and roll out the next morning.
4. Shirts
Because chamois is incredibly soft, it makes great clothing, especially for items that touch your skin directly. Chamois shirts are really comfortable to wear – you would think that you are wearing a snuggly blanket.
However, that doesn’t mean that chamois shirts don’t look luxurious. Because of the thickness of the fabric, most chamois shirts have a highly structured look that would compliment any body type. Thanks to the fabric’s thickness, most chamois shirts look quite high-end and polished.
If you love sewing and want to make a fashion statement, chamois is the next big thing in fashion.
Keep in mind that because of chamois’ distinct thickness and look, it may not work with every type of design. The fabric can look quite boxy, so using it with a collared shirt or collared jacket, for example, would help you take advantage of chamois’ look.
5. Outdoor and Work Clothing
Chamois is a strong and highly durable fabric, so it’s no wonder that hunters and construction workers love this material. You don’t have to worry about rough treatments or wear and tear because this material can withstand pretty much anything.
If you need a great shirt for the outdoor, chamois is definitely a great choice of fabric. This material absorbs sweat well and dries quite fast, so your hikes and treks will always feel comfortable and light.
Because of chamois’ structured look, it would make a great outerwear item or a layering piece for outdoor work and activities. It can protect your body quite well against the cold and roughness of outdoor work, but it will still offer certain levels of luxury comfort that you can’t find in other materials like flannel.
6. Sheets
Cotton flannel sheets are quite popular, but if you want to bring the coziness to the next level, you can consider getting cotton chamois sheets.
We have mentioned that chamois is incredibly soft, which makes your bed a heavenly cloud to rest in. Cotton is known for being breathable and sweat-absorbent, which makes chamois sheets cozy without suffocating you.
You know the qualities of flannel sheets, but chamois really raises the bar for comfort. Although chamois is a bit more expensive than flannel, investing in quality bed linens can significantly improve your sleep quality, so why not try it?
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