Cotton Twill: The Go-To Woven Fabric for Workwear & Streetwear

Cotton Twill: The Go-To Woven Fabric for Workwear & Streetwear

If you're producing jackets, pants, or structured garments, you’ve probably worked with twill — especially cotton twill.

At HEM APPAREL, cotton twill is one of the most requested woven fabrics for brands doing streetwear, uniforms, or workwear-inspired fashion. It blends durability, structure, and visual character.


🧵 What is Twill?

Twill is a woven fabric characterized by its diagonal rib pattern.
The weave structure gives it:

  • High strength

  • Resistance to wrinkles and wear

  • A signature slanted texture visible on the surface

✅ Cotton twill is breathable, structured, and ideal for garments that need shape and durability.


🆚 Cotton Twill vs Canvas

Feature Cotton Twill Canvas
Weave Diagonal twill Plain weave
Handfeel Softer, more flexible Stiffer, more rigid
Breathability ✅ Higher Lower
Best for Pants, overshirts, uniforms Bags, jackets, utility wear
Print Compatibility Great for screen & DTG Better for solid colors

🧥 Best Use Cases

  • Chino pants & cargos

  • Overshirts or shirt jackets (shackets)

  • Uniform bottoms or industrial apparel

  • Utility-style shorts or skirts

  • Aprons, caps, and accessories


✅ Key Advantages

  • Doesn’t wrinkle easily — perfect for all-day wear

  • Holds color well, especially with garment dye or enzyme wash

  • Softens over time without losing structure

  • Works for both casual and semi-formal aesthetics


⚠️ Notes to Consider

  • Higher GSM twill can feel hot in summer — go lighter for warm climates

  • Diagonal weave may slightly distort prints with large, flat graphics

  • Twill may shrink if not pre-shrunk — test swatch before bulk


🧠 HEM APPAREL’s Tip:

Use cotton twill 240–280gsm for pants and overshirts.
If your style leans streetwear, twill looks great with washed effects and tone-on-tone embroidery.
We can help select the right weight, finish, and dye method for your brand’s look.

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