What Fabric Keeps You Cool in Summer?
Summer days can be super hot, and wearing the wrong clothes can make you feel even hotter. When the sun is bright and the air is warm, the type of fabric you wear really matters. Some fabrics help keep sweat away from your skin and let air move through them, while others trap heat and make you feel sticky. In this post, we’ll look at the best fabrics to keep you cool when temperatures rise, so you can enjoy summer without feeling too hot.
Best Summer Fabrics
Cotton
Cotton comes from plants and is one of the most common fabrics in the world. It’s soft, light, and soaks up sweat, which helps keep your skin dry. Cotton lets air pass through it easily, so heat from your body can escape. This makes it a great choice for hot summer days. The only problem with cotton is that it holds onto water for a long time after it gets wet. This means if you sweat a lot, your cotton clothes might stay damp and start to feel heavy.
Linen
Linen is made from flax plants and has been used for thousands of years. It’s known for being one of the coolest fabrics you can wear in hot weather. Linen is super good at letting air pass through it and dries much faster than cotton. When you wear linen, sweat evaporates quickly, which helps cool your body down. Linen also doesn’t stick to your skin when you sweat, so you feel less sticky. The only downside is that linen wrinkles very easily, but many people think the wrinkles add to its summer look.
Rayon
Rayon is a fabric that comes from wood pulp. It’s not fully natural or fully man-made, but somewhere in between. Rayon feels a lot like silk but costs much less. It’s very thin and light, which makes it great for hot weather. Like cotton, rayon soaks up sweat well and lets your skin breathe. Rayon also drapes nicely on your body without clinging too much, so air can move between the fabric and your skin.
Chambray
Chambray looks a bit like denim but is much lighter and more breathable. It’s made from cotton using a special weaving pattern that creates a fabric that’s sturdy but still lets air through. Chambray shirts are perfect for summer because they look a bit dressier than a plain T-shirt but won’t make you overheat like a regular dress shirt might.
Bamboo
Bamboo fabric is relatively new compared to others on this list. It’s made from bamboo plants, which grow very quickly without needing much water or pesticides. Bamboo fabric is super soft and feels a bit like a mix between cotton and silk. It’s great at soaking up moisture—even better than cotton—and has tiny holes that let your skin breathe. Bamboo also has natural properties that fight bacteria, which helps prevent smells when you sweat.
Fabrics to Avoid in Summer
Polyester
Polyester is made from plastic and is found in lots of cheap clothes. It doesn’t let air pass through very well and doesn’t soak up sweat. This means that when you wear polyester in hot weather, the sweat stays on your skin and makes you feel sticky and uncomfortable. Polyester can also trap odors, so you might start to smell bad faster than you would in natural fabrics.
Nylon
Like polyester, nylon is made from plastic and isn’t good at letting your skin breathe. It’s often used in activewear because it’s strong and stretchy, but it can make you feel much hotter than natural fabrics. If you need to wear activewear in summer, look for items that mix nylon with more breathable fabrics.
Acrylic
Acrylic is another plastic-based fabric that’s often used to make fake wool. It’s one of the worst choices for hot weather because it traps heat close to your body and doesn’t let sweat evaporate easily. Acrylic can also make some people’s skin feel itchy when they sweat, which adds to the discomfort.
Comparison Table of Summer Fabrics
| Fabric | Breathability | Moisture Wicking | Drying Speed | Feel on Skin | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Good | Good | Slow | Soft | Low | Everyday wear, T-shirts |
| Linen | Excellent | Good | Very Fast | Crisp | Medium-High | Beach wear, loose shirts, dresses |
| Rayon | Good | Excellent | Medium | Silky | Low-Medium | Dresses, flowy tops |
| Chambray | Good | Good | Medium | Soft | Medium | Casual button-ups, work clothes |
| Bamboo | Excellent | Excellent | Fast | Very Soft | Medium-High | Underwear, T-shirts, sheets |
| Polyester | Poor | Poor | Fast | Slick | Very Low | Best avoided in summer |
| Nylon | Poor | Poor | Fast | Smooth | Low | Best avoided in summer |
| Acrylic | Very Poor | Very Poor | Medium | Often Itchy | Low | Best avoided in summer |
Special Summer Fabric Technologies
Moisture-Wicking Blends
Some brands mix natural and synthetic fibers to make fabrics that are better at keeping you cool. These special blends take sweat away from your skin and help it dry quickly. While they often contain some polyester, the way the fabric is made helps overcome the usual problems with synthetic materials. These blends are common in sports clothes and can be good for very active summer days.
UPF Fabrics
UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) fabrics help block harmful sun rays. Many summer clothes now come with UPF ratings that tell you how much sun protection they offer. This is super helpful because staying cool often means wearing less clothing, which can leave your skin exposed to the sun. UPF fabrics let you stay cool while still protecting your skin.
Tips for Choosing Summer Clothes
When shopping for summer clothes, don’t just look at the fabric type. Also think about:
- Color: Lighter colors reflect heat better than dark ones.
- Fit: Loose-fitting clothes let air circulate between the fabric and your skin.
- Weight: Thinner fabrics usually feel cooler than thick ones.
- Weave: Even within the same fabric type, an open weave will be cooler than a tight one.
Remember that what feels cool also depends on your local climate. In dry heat, cotton can work great. But in humid places, fabrics that dry quickly like linen or moisture-wicking blends might be better choices.
FAQ About Summer Fabrics
Is silk good to wear in summer?
Silk is a natural fabric that feels cool to the touch. However, it doesn’t soak up sweat very well and can stick to your skin when wet. Silk can be good for light summer evenings but isn’t the best choice for very hot or humid days.
Why do my polyester shirts make me sweat more?
Polyester doesn’t let air pass through easily and doesn’t soak up moisture. This traps heat and sweat against your skin, making you feel hotter and sweatier than you would in natural fabrics.
Can I wear jeans in summer?
Regular denim is quite thick and doesn’t breathe well, making it a poor choice for hot days. However, lightweight summer jeans made from thinner denim or denim blends can be okay on milder summer days.
What’s the coolest fabric for summer bedding?
Linen and bamboo are excellent choices for summer sheets and pillowcases. They both wick moisture well and dry quickly, helping you stay cool while you sleep.
Are there any synthetic fabrics that are good for summer?
Some modern synthetic fabrics designed specifically for hot weather can be good options. Look for terms like “moisture-wicking,” “quick-dry,” or “cooling technology” on the label. These are often used in sports clothing and can help keep you cool during active summer days.
How can I tell if a fabric will be cool before buying?
Hold the fabric up to a light source. If you can see light through it, it’s likely to be more breathable. Also, touch it – fabrics that feel light and crisp rather than dense and soft are usually cooler in hot weather.
