With summer comes sunshine … and heat. You may think beating the heat means nothing but shorts, sundresses, flip flops, and sandals — or staying indoors by the AC. But it’s not just what you wear, it’s the fabric that counts. For those dog days of summer, you want fabrics that are lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking as well as being versatile so you don’t have to sacrifice your fashion sense. Here’s our guide to the best breathable fabrics for Colorado that will keep you cool and dry all summer long.
Linen
A summer fabric staple you can’t go wrong with is linen. This lightweight fabric is extremely versatile and perfect for anything from pants and shorts to button downs and dresses. The loosely woven natural fibers provide optimal breathability. Linen absorbs moisture but dries quickly to help keep you cool during the Colorado summers.
One thing to note is that linen tends to wrinkle easily. The great thing about linen is that the wrinkles have become part of the care-free, summer-vibe style. In fact, ironing your linen can damage the fabric, so embrace the wrinkles. You can read more about why we think linen is the perfect summer fabric and how to best care for your linen clothing here.
Cotton
When it comes to summer fabrics, cotton is another winner and ideal for both dry or humid climates. It’s lightweight, soft, and breathable. And a bonus? It’s inexpensive and widely available. Since cotton comes in a wide variety of styles and colors, it’s easy to find the right cotton outfit to fit your unique style.
As with linen, cotton can wrinkle easily. To best care for your cotton clothing and help prevent shrinkage, wash on low heat and lay flat to dry. It’s also recommended to avoid over-ironing cotton fabrics. When you want to save time to enjoy more outdoor activities, try our wash and fold services. Not only will it free you from laundry duty, but it will also help keep your cotton clothing clean, crisp, and wrinkle-free.
Chambray
Chambray is another summer favorite — being cotton, it will keep you cool during the hot, dry days of summer. Chambray is typically light blue and may look similar to denim, but it’s much lighter with a fine weave, which makes it a more breathable fabric. Since it does resemble denim, you can achieve your favorite denim look without the weight. Chambray fabric is lightweight and versatile — a perfect summer staple for shorts, tops, and breezy summer dresses.
Wrinkles might be the only downfall of this popular fabric. Since chambray fabric wrinkles easily, press with a hot iron on the cotton setting and use steam. For more tips on extending the life of your clothes, check out our Washing Tips.
Rayon
Last on our list of breathable fabrics is rayon. Rayon is a man-made fiber created from cotton, wood pulp, and other natural or synthetic fibers. Rayon fabric is both lightweight and versatile. And if you’re anti-ironing, you’ll love that it’s wrinkle resistant.
When caring for your rayon garments, read the label carefully. It might be recommended to hand wash, but often it’s safe to wash it in cold water on the delicate cycle with a low spin cycle and laying flat to dry. When you need help caring for your rayon clothing, our experts can help with either wet or dry cleaning options.
Summertime is about getting outside and taking advantage of the longer days and sunny weather. These four summer-friendly fabrics will help you do just that. When it comes to caring for your clothes, save valuable time and show your summer wear extra love by letting the experts the Dependable Cleaners care for them. Whether it’s wet cleaning, dry cleaning, or wash and fold, we’ll make sure your clothes are properly cleaned and stain-free.
