Heather (fabric)

In clothing, heather refers to a color effect created by mixing two or more different colored fibers or yarns.[1][2] It is interwoven yarns of mixed colors, and possibly the type of fiber, producing another color.[3] It is typically used to mix multiple shades of grey or grey with another color to produce a muted shade (e.g., heather green), but any two colors can be mixed, including bright colors. A mixed fabric color is achieved by using different colors of fiber and mixing them together (a good example is a grey heather t-shirt). Black and white fiber mixed will combine to give grey heather fiber. Heather is blended fibers combined to create a multicolored effect. Heather effect is also known as melange effect.[2]

Mark Zuckerberg in blue heather shirt

Methods

Fundamentally it is a mixing of the different colored fibers and yarns combined in one fabric. The methods may involve one of the following

  • Fiber dyeing in different color and then mixing (in desired percentages) and spinning.
  • Jaspe-Roving Grindle.
  • Yarn dyeing and twisting double ply.[4]
  • Using blended yarns and cross dyeing.[5]

Heather yarn may be more expensive than regular yarns because of other processes involved during fiber dyeing or yarn dyeing in the case of heather effect. The cross dyeing of blends may also create the heather effect. Different fibers types respond differently to the dyes. Cross dyeing is the way of dyeing constituting fibers in different colors.[6] Selection of dyes and fiber composition plays a vital role in this case.[5]

It is important to note that depending on the percent of cotton, the fabric can still be legally labeled 100% cotton.[7]

Importance and use

Manipulating parts of fiber (by color or type) produce different shades in the heather. Many weaves and knit structures are possible with them. Heather effects add value to the products and increase the range and variety of textiles options other than piece-dyed/solids and prints. [8] Grey heather in T-shirts is one of the most famous colors in heathers.[9]

References
  1. Humphries, Mary (2009). Fabric Reference. Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 142, 225. ISBN 9788131765708.
  2. heddels. "Heather". Heddels. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  3. "heather [noun; sense 5]". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  4. Hospital Management - Volume 88. 1959. p. 90.
  5. Mary Katherine Dixon, Jill Condra, Dianne Rose Jackman (2003). The Guide to Textiles for Interiors. Portage and Main Press. p. 126. ISBN 9781895411973.
  6. Humphries, Mary (2009). Fabric Reference. Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 222. ISBN 9788131765708.
  7. "Calling It Cotton: Labeling and Advertising Cotton Products". Federal Trade Commission. July 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  8. Textile Asia - Volume 26, Issues 7-12. The University of California: Business Press. 1995. p. 87.
  9. Edwin Mark Norris, Jesse Lynch Williams (1996). Princeton Alumni Weekly - Volume 97. Princeton University.


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