Pique: features, types and applications

Each fabric has its own unique history, sometimes stretching back into the past. Remember silk or cashmere - fabrics with a unique finest structure, the recipe of which came to us more than one hundred years later. But what if you think about more modern fabrics? Today we will talk about the fabric with the fancy name "pique", plunge into the interesting history of the origin of this material, consider the types and areas of its application.

Piquet, or as some are used to calling, "lacoste" (from the name of the fashion house), appeared on the world market at the beginning of the last century. Sportswear at that time was made of flannel, which in its original form was not always comfortable and hindering fast movements. The piqué jersey was designed by French tennis player Rene Lacostewho is better known as the man who invented the famous polo shirt.

The very first day of the appearance of a tennis player in this very shirt (from a previously unknown material) at one of the tournaments made an indelible impression on the public. Today, each of us has heard a lot about the fashion house Lacoste, whose original polo shirts are recognizable all over the world.

Piqué is a jersey in the form of a woven cotton fabric with a unique pattern and structure. In appearance, the structure of the piqué fabric is somewhat reminiscent of the famous waffle towels, however, the pattern can be significantly different. The peculiarity of sewing such fabric lies in the very structure of production. So, you can often find patterns in the form of honeycombs, squares and diamond-shaped elements - there are no straight lines in the texture of the peak.To some extent, the popularity of the pique fabric came precisely due to the original texture - on the one hand, clothes and other accessories made of this material look solid and simple at the same time, and on the other hand, they are attractive and fashionable.

As we already wrote, piqué is jersey in the form of a fabric cotton fabric. The manufacture of such a fabric is characterized by a certain and rather complex weave. The material is based on two weft and transverse warp threads, which is why models of this type are called quilted. Here you can also recall the origin of the word "piquer", which came to us from the French language (piquer), which actually means "to sew, to fasten the matter."

If we talk about the composition of the pique fabric, then the original fabric was 100% cottonhowever, today you can often find only 50% cotton ratio in models, and even this is already considered the norm. There are, of course, more radical manufacturers who bring this indicator to minimum values ​​(20-30%), thereby reducing the overall value of the fabric. It is also worth mentioning other materials and fibers that can often be found in pique knitwear. These are cotton, wool, semi-woolen fabrics, silk, elastane and some others. The addition of the above fibers and fabrics allowed the peak to gain popularity, but the very uniqueness of this fabric has become less and less appreciated, and gradually the material is lost in its original form.

Of course, piqué fabric is famous not only for its pleasant appearance and rich history. Many fashion houses choose it for sewing clothes precisely because of the unique characteristics of this material.

• Flexibility and stability. The most obvious advantage of such fabric is that it does not wrinkle as much as, for example, most natural and some synthetic materials. The advantage is very serious and is a tangible competitor to many modern types of fabric.
• Hygroscopicity. Another serious plus of pique fabric is that it perfectly absorbs moisture and, unlike synthetics, allows air to pass through. The first of these features allowed the pique to enter the bath accessories market - excellent towels and bathrobes were made from the material. The second feature has finally brought the fabric to the big market - after all, we are all looking for not only beautiful, but also breathable casual clothes.
• Strength. Everyone knows how fragile natural fabrics are - especially silk, wool, microfiber. Piqué, due to the special structure of manufacture and the possibility of adding synthetics and other fibers there, can last for many years.

• Autonomy. If other types of fabric need constant care: washing, ironing at certain temperatures, then the pique needs almost no care. In the end, this is jersey, which was, will be and remains the most unpretentious material.
• Resistant to sunlight. If most materials lose their color characteristics over time, then things from pique remain the same rich and bright for many years.
• Cleanliness and health. Since most of the pique fabrics are 100% natural cotton, the likelihood of it provoking allergic reactions or otherwise affecting your skin is minimal. This item will probably not be the least important among the advantages of the fabric.

When it comes to the varieties of pique fabric, it is worth understanding that they were formed thanks to a decade of adopting the experience of its manufacture.As we remember from what was written above, initially the pique was 100% cotton. Rene Lacoste took care of the quality of his products, because he himself had to wear them. The result was a real work of art - the fabric breathed, perfectly absorbed moisture, and did not hinder movement.

Over time, manufacturers who successfully adopted the technology for the production of polo shirts, began to "skimp" with the cotton content in a unit of clothing (after all, high-quality natural material is very expensive), which led to an increase in the content of synthetic elements in the peak. The result is predictable - a decrease in quality and the appearance of cheaper varieties of piqué knitwear.

Consider the traditional types of material below.

• Knitted pique or original French. It is this material that underlies the manufacture of the polo shirts we already know.
• Children's pique. Warm, thickened cotton version of the fabric with a subtle pile. Also, this type is used in the manufacture of the most delicate bed linen and the thinnest bedspreads. This variety has the highest cotton content, which makes it not only the most pleasant, but also the most expensive.
• The so-called pique bumazey or fabric with a dense pile on the seamy side of the canvas. This version of piqué fabric is sometimes used for sewing clothes, upholstery, blankets and warm bedspreads.

Some distinguish several more varieties of pique fabric, but depending on the density of the weave and the appearance, these are:

• unbleached;
• plain;
• multicolored.

Perhaps the history of piqué fabric did not seem to you as exciting as the history of the appearance of the same silk, but after reading this article you will understand that at the moment this fabric has gone far beyond the tennis court and has taken root in all areas of modern textile society. So, today we can find elements of piqué fabric in the following types of clothing and other household accessories.

• Clothes for going out and for every day. First of all, this applies to shirts, T-shirts, business suits.
• Bathroom accessories items: bathrobes, towels.
• Options for everyday insulated clothing in the form of trowels and hoodies.
• Children's clothing: overalls, T-shirts, tights, hats.
• Some varieties of pique fabrics can be found on the market in the form of bedspreads, blankets, and even kitchen napkins. This also applies to insulated bedding options. Here, it is worth noting the great popularity of mattresses of varying degrees of rigidity, which are based on the pique fabric.
• The last and less common use of this fabric in decorative items of clothing is various stripes, patterns, and the like.

The modern world of fabrics does not stand still and offers us a great variety of different fabrics. Some of them are originals that have preserved all the good things from their predecessors. Such models cost a lot, but they also serve for a long time, do not lose color at the first wash. Other models, albeit sometimes successful, are still fakes, and fakes at their peak are no exception. Let's look at the signs by which you can determine the authenticity of pique knitwear.

• The first sure sign of a pique is a flexible structure. Just pick up the material (clothing, towel, or blanket) and try to pull it. If the material lends itself to slight stretching and immediately takes on its original shape - this is the pique jersey.
• The second feature is the unique pique texture. Any clothing of this type has a certain patterned pattern, which can sometimes be confused with the texture of waffle towels.
• The third and less distinctive feature of this fabric is color saturation. If you look at the material from afar, it seems very rich and bright. However, if you take a closer look, you can notice a slight color blur and pastel tones.

When choosing a fabric, everything in general depends on why exactly you need this or that item. If this is sports, then it is worth choosing a thinner fabric with a high cotton content, if we are talking about clothes for the cold season, then you need to take care of tougher fabric options with insulation and fleece. However, there are several key indicators by which you can choose a quality pique knitwear option.

• The main condition is natural cotton in the basis of the linen with a percentage of at least 50%. If there is less cotton, the fabric will turn out to be tough, it will not be so good to breathe and stretch. At the same time, if there is more cotton, the clothes, if not properly cared for, may very soon lose their appearance, but it will be better to absorb moisture and breathe.
• Adding synthetic fabrics to the canvas, for example, of the same nylon, will give the fabric more flexibility and strength. Consequently, it will keep clothes for a longer time. In addition, synthetics greatly reduce the likelihood of damage to clothing with efficient washing and high temperatures. Not to mention the fact that models with synthetics are much cheaper.
• Initially, pay attention to the tags and tags on the canvas, some models may require very careful maintenance.
• If you require warmer, denser clothing and materials, choose wool fiber options.

As we already wrote, pique is an absolutely unpretentious fabric, however, like any jersey, it has its own minimum care rules, following which you will keep your clothes beautiful, smooth and well-groomed for a long time.

It is so accepted that the main way of caring for clothes or household fabric materials is to wash them, so the main part of the advice will relate to proper washing.

• Don't be afraid to put even 100% cotton piqué jersey clothes in the washing machine. Due to the dense weave, the material is able to withstand heavy loads and at the same time not lose its properties. Also, do not follow the lead of detergents for gentle washing - pique is perfectly washed with ordinary synthetic detergents.
• As for the washing temperature, everything is very simple here - the optimal mode for this fabric, as well as for many others, is 40 degrees.
• If you prefer starchy clothes, then the latter should be carried out with the fabric after the wash itself (this primarily applies to hard types of fabrics).

• If you need clothes or linen urgently, and usually this means ironing, then you should carefully consider the composition of the material. Typically, the label (in shirts and polo-type T-shirts) indicates both the percentage of cotton in the material and the recommended ironing temperature and conditions. Clothes are ironed inside out and slightly damp. However, again, note that pique is a material that practically does not wrinkle, and if you have extra time to let the material dry, it will be better to just wait than to subject it to unnecessary heat treatment.
• Stubborn stains on clothing are also not a problem for piqué fabrics. It will tolerate the use of almost any stain remover, however, without chlorine in the composition. This element is too aggressive and can significantly damage the base of the fabric.
• There is no need to worry about drying clothes, it can be either a machine version or a traditional one.

Let's dwell on a few little tricks that will help keep the look of your clothes for a long time.

• As a rule, in the original polo shirts, there are special fixing elements (or stickers) near the collars that allow you to avoid unwanted deformation of the fabric during washing.
• If we are talking about polo shirts with buttons or additional inserts and patterns on the clothes, then it is recommended to wash the clothes, turning it inside out and buttoning all the buttons. So you will not only preserve the integrity of the model, but also preserve the drum of your washing machine for a long time.
• If you do not trust purchased starching solutions, you can easily prepare such a composition yourself. To do this, you need two tablespoons of starch and three liters of water. Immediately after washing, clothes or linen are placed in hot water with a pre-mixed starch solution. Then the clothes are gently wrung out and dried. Of course, there are also special solutions in aerosols, they are more convenient to use and not particularly expensive.

In the next video, you will find an overview of cotton piqué with a bright print.