I made a jacket with regular cotton and then with a waxed canvas, the difference was huge. | Fashion Design Ideas - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
I made a jacket with regular cotton and then with a waxed canvas, the difference was huge.
The cotton one looked fine but got dirty fast and lost its shape after a few wears. The waxed canvas version from a project last fall still looks sharp and handles rain without a problem. Anyone have other tough fabrics they like for outerwear?
I used to avoid waxed canvas for the same reason, it seemed like a lot of work. Then I wore a friend's old waxed jacket that was just broken in perfectly, not stiff at all. The patina and character it had were amazing, something nylon never gets. Now I see the maintenance as part of the deal, like caring for good leather boots. That bit of effort gives you something that lasts for years and looks better with age.
Isn't waxed canvas a pain to maintain though? I find it gets stiff and needs rewaxing, which is a messy job. Sometimes a simple nylon shell is easier for daily use.
Used to think waxed canvas was too much trouble until I wore my buddy's old hunting jacket. That thing was soft as a flannel shirt but still kept the water out. Now I get it, the stiff phase is just part of the story. A little work up front gives you gear that actually gets better, not just older.