Linen or Cotton Suits

Which Is Cooler for Summer: Linen or Cotton Suits?

While we have heard from industry experts that cotton or linen is the best choice of fabrics for a summer suit, did you know there is a considerable difference between these fabrics? Everyone thinks that both cotton and linen are similar fabrics featuring natural fibers, adequate breathability, and soft textures. However, there are notable differences that differentiate the benefits of wearing such fabrics. 

Here we go—to analyze in detail what cotton and linen fabrics are, and which is cooler and more suitable for summer.

Cotton Vs Linen Fabrics

While cotton fabrics are made of natural fibers from cotton plants, linen fabrics are made of natural fibers from flax plants. Both the fibers are natural and super-soft. However, linen fibers are found to be stronger than cotton fibers. Thus, making it a great choice for suits that can last longer. 

Cotton, on the other hand, is lighter and less durable. Cotton is also produced in greater quantities than flax. This makes cotton less expensive and a secondary choice when shelf life is the priority. 

Otherwise, both fabrics are soft and hypoallergenic. They provide long-day comfort even when layered in three or more pieces. Besides these common characteristics, and when considering summer, we can see that linen absorbs less moisture than cotton, making it suitable for summer beach weddings and events. Of course, they can dry more quickly than cotton. 

Which is cooler for summer?

Based on the factors below, you can understand which fabric aligns well with the summer men’s suit.

  1. Breathability

As per the skin model test, the lower the RET score, the more suitable the fabric is for summer. It is nothing but the water resistance score that makes it easy for the fabric to dry and breathe. In this regard, linen’s RET score is way lower than cotton’s RET score. 

  1. Insulation

Both cotton and linen can be used as insulation. Still, linen has the added advantage that the hollow fiber structure in linen fabrics can accommodate more air than cotton fabrics. This makes it one of the most suitable fabrics for summer, keeping the body cool and airy.    

  1. Moisture absorption

Compared to cotton, linen has less water (sweat) absorption, which makes it water-wicking. This property quickly transfers sweat from the skin and allows the body to dry with the help of air circulation. Nevertheless, cotton is also quick to absorb sweat from the body and has a greater tendency to keep the fabric wet due to lowered drying speed.  

  1. The comfort index

According to the IMT comfort index, linen scores 0.88, and cotton scores 0.86. This means that linen fabrics are more comfortable than cotton, with a negligible difference of 0.02.  

Conclusion

The cotton and linen fabrics look and feel almost similar. Still, there are differences in terms of the fibers used, fiber structure, permeability, and comfort levels. So, we can always choose linen first for summer suits as it can make you cooler than cotton fabrics. Nevertheless, both are great options for summer. 
Above all, fit and looseness matter the most when it comes to summer suits. So, do not rely upon regular ready-to-wear suits. Instead, try tailored suits made to your measurements and style preferences. Check it out!

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