Types of Seersucker Fabric

Seersucker fabric, with its characteristic crinkled weave of tightened threads with puckered white stripes alternating with slack-tensioned colored threads, is common in summer wear as it does not wrinkle. Seersucker is featured in striped, gingham-plaid, checked, plain and printed designs. The naturally occurring wrinkles keep the fabric from touching the skin, which allows air circulation and dissipates heat.

Linen

Linen, a fabric derived from a coarse plant called flax then spun into thread and woven into cloth) is the world's oldest natural textile. It has been fashioned into different styles of seersucker linen garments that have been around for centuries. In ancient Persia, men wore long striped linen garments called "shiroshakar," meaning milk and honey. These were the original seersucker linen garments. First recorded in 1722 as Sea Sucker, linen seersucker was worn by the British in India's hot climate during England's occupation of India back in the 1800's. This type of seersucker material spread to other European countries before arriving in the United States as proper summer-suit attire for Southern gentlemen.

Cotton

Cotton, the second oldest natural fiber worn by man, lends itself to the light, thin, airiness of seersucker. On her Stitch'n Save website, Sara Glen says that cotton seersucker is light yet durable and comes in different weights (medium to heavy). Today this fabric is used in making summer suits for men and women, coats, nightwear, dresses, children's wear, bedspreads, blouses, dresses and curtains. Some cotton seersucker comes in prints and is embroidered. This material, as with linen and polyesters, requires no ironing.

Rayon

In 1910 the first man-made fiber, rayon, was invented from wood pulp. Some manufacturers began producing seersucker fabric in this new material and continue to produce rayon seersucker today.

Polyester

Polyester was invented in 1953, and according to Trail End.org is the most used man-made fiber in the world. Polyester became an inexpensive alternative to be used for seersucker and is still used today.

Cotton Blends

Cotton/polyester blends and woven cotton/polyester blends offer seersucker both the soft absorbency of cotton with the wash-and-wear capabilities and crispness of polyester. Cotton/ polyester/ spandex (the stretchy material invented in 1959) blends offer a more fitted look to seersucker outfits, especially to women's blouses and skirts.