Khaki Manual

Fabric

Published on 08.05.2020

Fabric Types

What those clothes are made of.

Khaki (Cloth)

A yellowish-brown cloth used initially for military uniforms. The word “khaki” comes from the Persian word for “dust,” which aptly describes its original color.

Bedford Corduroy

A durable fabric that resembles corduroy with lengthwise ridges, but without the filling yarns corduroy has.

Canvas

Heavy-duty plain weave fabric, often found in workwear.

Chambray

Extra lightweight fabric with the look of denim, woven with white and colored threads to create a faded look.

Corduroy

Durable cotton pile fabric with vertical ribs or “wales.” The surface area created by these wales keeps heat in, and makes it a great cool-weather fabric.

Cotton

A soft, fluffy fiber that grows in a ball. Most often spun into yarn and used to make soft, breathable textiles. The fabric predates to 5,000 B.C.

Denim

A durable twill (usually cotton) fabric woven with colored warp and white threads.

Dobby

Woven fabric with fine geometric patterns and a textured feel.

Elastane

A synthetic fiber that gives stretch — even 1% will make a pair of pants feel extra comfortable. Flexible pants with stretch are making their way into dressy attire, and often don’t look as stretchy as they feel.

Fabric

Cloth made by weaving or knitting fibers together.

Fiber

A fine, thread-like filament, fibers are woven or knit into fabrics.

Flannel

A soft woven fabric, most often brushed twill or a brushed mélange fabrics, that most will associate with lumberjacks and grunge.

Fleece

A soft, fuzzy fabric that insulates and feels oh-so-fine.

French Terry

Fabric consisting of threads knit in a tight “looped” pattern, like bath towels. This creates an extremely soft, cotton rich feel.

Herringbone

A classic woven fabric and a staple in menswear, defined by a geometric V-pattern.

Interlock/Double Knit

Thick, smooth fabric with a similar look and feel on both sides.

Jersey

A soft knit fabric, commonly used for T-shirts.

Linen

Made from the fibers of the flax plant, this fabric is valued for its exceptionally cool, fresh feel in hot weather.

Merino Wool

Lightweight, fine wool that’s less itchy and handles moisture better than other wool types.

Nylon

A synthetic fiber that’s synonymous with sportswear and is great at taking on color and sheen.

Ounces

Fabrics are often measured in weight, i.e. “8 oz. stretch twill.” The ounces refer to a fabric’s weight by square yard — the standard unit for fabric.

Oxford

A formalwear classic, this woven fabric has a lightweight, crisp feel.

Pile Knit

Knit fabric with a raised, “piled up,” slightly napped surface.

Piqué

Woven cotton with a finely raised, bumpy texture. This is what many, many polo shirts are made of.

Polyamide

A soft, lustrous synthetic fiber.

Polyester

A synthetic fiber used to make a variety of textiles.

Poplin

A woven fabric with very fine ribbed texture and smooth surface that’s less prone to wrinkles, often used to make button-up shirts.

Rib

A fabric treatment with little lines or “ribs” for texture and grip. It’s most commonly found on hems, cuffs and necklines.

Rip Stop

Extra durable fabric that’s densely woven so it’s resistant to rips and tears.

Sateen

Smooth woven fabric with the gloss and sheen of satin.

Seersucker

A warm weather classic, this woven fabric is known for its striped pattern, lightweight feel, and crinkly texture.

Silk

A fine, extra-smooth, lustrous fiber produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons — especially the strong, elastic, fibrous secretion of silkworms.

Twill

A popular woven fabric, with tiny diagonal parallel “ridges” in the pattern. It’s a classic khaki fabric, and you’ll find it used in many of our own staples: blue pants, black pants, and beyond.

Waffle Knit

This super-textured fabric is knit in a grid construction and features a waffle-like pattern. It’s great for lightweight layering.

Warp

When weaving fabric, the warp refers to the threads that run lengthwise.

Weft

Sometimes referred to as a “fill,” the weft refers to threads woven across the warp; in weaving, these are looped over and under the vertical threads.

Finishes & Washes

Special treatments and processes for our fabrics.

Garment Dye

This means the entire garment is dyed as one piece, after being constructed. This ensures rich color and a soft, broken-in feel. Due to this unique process, each piece is usually slightly different.

Knitted Cloth

Made from one continuous thread, knits typically have the ability to stretch all over.

Peached

A treatment that makes fabric soft and gives it a fine, velvety finish, like peach skin.

Pigment Dye

This special coloring process results in a naturally distressed look that fades with repeated use, like denim.

Plain Weave

The simplest and most common textile weave. Made by passing each horizontal yarn over and under each vertical yarn, this fabric tends to be dense and smooth.

Slubbed

Something that’s slubbed is brushed to create tiny knots and achieve a napped texture and softer feel.

Waxed

If a fabric is waxed, it’s given a coating that makes it more resistant to moisture. Often, waxed fabrics need to be waxed occasionally in order to keep them in top shape. This is a popular feature in outdoors-oriented jackets for men.

Woven Cloth

Made out of multiple yarns crossing each other and creating a criss-cross pattern, woven cloth usually provides depth to a look.

Leather

What our belts, shoes, and wallets are made of.

Barnished Leather

A type of leather finish that’s buffed for extra polish and an antique appearance.

Crazyhorse Leather

This means that Dockers® has taken full grain leather and applied special waxes that enhance the natural texture of the surface. As it gets rubbed or scratched, the color will change, achieving a more rustic look.

Faux Leather

Boasts the refined look of leather, with less maintenance.

Full Grain Leather/Top Grain Leather

The highest grade of leather available, this is meant for long term wear and known for its tight-grained natural texture, which provides durability and moisture resistance. Best of all, it ages handsomely over time to develop a rich patina with a smoother finish, deeper color, and fine sheen that’s unique to you. This is often used in premium pieces meant to last for years, like belts and wallets.

Nubuck Leather

This leather is buffed to produce a slightly napped texture and smooth, suede-like feel.

Oiled Leather

Coated with oil for a softer feel and increased moisture resistance, this leather develops traces of wear and character after short-term use.

Patent Leather

Leather coated with a distinctive polish for a glossy, reflective finish. It makes an instant statement, and is often seen in men’s dress shoes.

Pull Up Leather

Infused with oils and waxes for a natural look, this leather looks exceptionally unique with prolonged wear. That’s because when it’s stretched or pulled, the oils move within the material, resulting in varied hues and tones.Infused with oils and waxes for a natural look, this leather looks exceptionally unique with prolonged wear. That’s because when it’s stretched or pulled, the oils move within the material, resulting in varied hues and tones.

Split/Blended/Bonded Leather

A mix of natural and synthetic leathers.

Tumbled Leather

This leather is gently scraped with pebbles for added texture and softness.

Waxed Leather

This leather is gently scraped with pebbles for added texture and softness.

Vachetta Leather

This raw and unfinished leather is extremely lightweight and thin, but durable.

Prints & Patterns

Some of our regulars.

Dots

Simply a series of circles, you’ll typically find dot patterns split into two camps. If they’re big, they’re called polka dots; if not, they’re usually very small and spaced like a grid.

Floral

A motif based in nature, florals are a catch-all term that typically refers to a print made up of flowers. Leaves, trees, and branches are also fair game.

Gingham

Gingham contrasts a colored warp with a white weft to create its famous grid of alternating squares.

Paisley

Associated with psychedelic ‘60s style, paisley actually first came to prominence around 1500. This pattern features tear-dropped shapes with curved ends and a whole lot of curlicues. This is a well-loved print for men’s shirts and ties.

Plaid

Technically known as tartan, this traditional and ultra-popular pattern consists of crossing horizontal and vertical bands of color. Plaid comes in an infinite number of forms, and plaid shirts are absolute staples for everyone.

Stripes

Made up of one or more parallel lines, stripes are great at drawing the eye and placing emphasis on different aspects of your body. Contrary to popular belief, horizontal stripes actually do make you look thinner, so pair them with skinny khaki pants.