Khaki Manual
Fabric
Published on 08.05.2020
What those clothes are made of.
Khaki (Cloth)
A yellowish-brown cloth used initially for military uniforms. The word “khaki” comes from the Persian word for “dust,” which aptly describes its original color.
Bedford Corduroy
A durable fabric that resembles corduroy with lengthwise ridges, but without the filling yarns corduroy has.
Canvas
Heavy-duty plain weave fabric, often found in workwear.
Chambray
Extra lightweight fabric with the look of denim, woven with white and colored threads to create a faded look.
Corduroy
Durable cotton pile fabric with vertical ribs or “wales.” The surface area created by these wales keeps heat in, and makes it a great cool-weather fabric.
Cotton
A soft, fluffy fiber that grows in a ball. Most often spun into yarn and used to make soft, breathable textiles. The fabric predates to 5,000 B.C.
Denim
A durable twill (usually cotton) fabric woven with colored warp and white threads.
Dobby
Woven fabric with fine geometric patterns and a textured feel.
Elastane
A synthetic fiber that gives stretch — even 1% will make a pair of pants feel extra comfortable. Flexible pants with stretch are making their way into dressy attire, and often don’t look as stretchy as they feel.
Fabric
Cloth made by weaving or knitting fibers together.
Fiber
A fine, thread-like filament, fibers are woven or knit into fabrics.
Flannel
A soft woven fabric, most often brushed twill or a brushed mélange fabrics, that most will associate with lumberjacks and grunge.
Fleece
A soft, fuzzy fabric that insulates and feels oh-so-fine.
French Terry
Fabric consisting of threads knit in a tight “looped” pattern, like bath towels. This creates an extremely soft, cotton rich feel.
Herringbone
A classic woven fabric and a staple in menswear, defined by a geometric V-pattern.
Interlock/Double Knit
Thick, smooth fabric with a similar look and feel on both sides.
Jersey
A soft knit fabric, commonly used for T-shirts.
Linen
Made from the fibers of the flax plant, this fabric is valued for its exceptionally cool, fresh feel in hot weather.
Merino Wool
Lightweight, fine wool that’s less itchy and handles moisture better than other wool types.
Nylon
A synthetic fiber that’s synonymous with sportswear and is great at taking on color and sheen.
Ounces
Fabrics are often measured in weight, i.e. “8 oz. stretch twill.” The ounces refer to a fabric’s weight by square yard — the standard unit for fabric.
Oxford
A formalwear classic, this woven fabric has a lightweight, crisp feel.
Pile Knit
Knit fabric with a raised, “piled up,” slightly napped surface.
Piqué
Woven cotton with a finely raised, bumpy texture. This is what many, many polo shirts are made of.
Polyamide
A soft, lustrous synthetic fiber.
Polyester
A synthetic fiber used to make a variety of textiles.
Poplin
A woven fabric with very fine ribbed texture and smooth surface that’s less prone to wrinkles, often used to make button-up shirts.
Rib
A fabric treatment with little lines or “ribs” for texture and grip. It’s most commonly found on hems, cuffs and necklines.
Rip Stop
Extra durable fabric that’s densely woven so it’s resistant to rips and tears.
Sateen
Smooth woven fabric with the gloss and sheen of satin.
Seersucker
A warm weather classic, this woven fabric is known for its striped pattern, lightweight feel, and crinkly texture.
Silk
A fine, extra-smooth, lustrous fiber produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons — especially the strong, elastic, fibrous secretion of silkworms.
Twill
A popular woven fabric, with tiny diagonal parallel “ridges” in the pattern. It’s a classic khaki fabric, and you’ll find it used in many of our own staples: blue pants, black pants, and beyond.
Waffle Knit
This super-textured fabric is knit in a grid construction and features a waffle-like pattern. It’s great for lightweight layering.
Warp
When weaving fabric, the warp refers to the threads that run lengthwise.
Weft
Sometimes referred to as a “fill,” the weft refers to threads woven across the warp; in weaving, these are looped over and under the vertical threads.
Finishes & Washes
Special treatments and processes for our fabrics.
Garment Dye
This means the entire garment is dyed as one piece, after being constructed. This ensures rich color and a soft, broken-in feel. Due to this unique process, each piece is usually slightly different.
Knitted Cloth
Made from one continuous thread, knits typically have the ability to stretch all over.
Peached
A treatment that makes fabric soft and gives it a fine, velvety finish, like peach skin.
Pigment Dye
This special coloring process results in a naturally distressed look that fades with repeated use, like denim.
Plain Weave
The simplest and most common textile weave. Made by passing each horizontal yarn over and under each vertical yarn, this fabric tends to be dense and smooth.
Slubbed
Something that’s slubbed is brushed to create tiny knots and achieve a napped texture and softer feel.
Waxed
If a fabric is waxed, it’s given a coating that makes it more resistant to moisture. Often, waxed fabrics need to be waxed occasionally in order to keep them in top shape. This is a popular feature in outdoors-oriented jackets for men.
Woven Cloth
Made out of multiple yarns crossing each other and creating a criss-cross pattern, woven cloth usually provides depth to a look.
Leather
What our belts, shoes, and wallets are made of.
Barnished Leather
A type of leather finish that’s buffed for extra polish and an antique appearance.
Crazyhorse Leather
This means that Dockers® has taken full grain leather and applied special waxes that enhance the natural texture of the surface. As it gets rubbed or scratched, the color will change, achieving a more rustic look.
Faux Leather
Boasts the refined look of leather, with less maintenance.
Full Grain Leather/Top Grain Leather
The highest grade of leather available, this is meant for long term wear and known for its tight-grained natural texture, which provides durability and moisture resistance. Best of all, it ages handsomely over time to develop a rich patina with a smoother finish, deeper color, and fine sheen that’s unique to you. This is often used in premium pieces meant to last for years, like belts and wallets.
Nubuck Leather
This leather is buffed to produce a slightly napped texture and smooth, suede-like feel.
Oiled Leather
Coated with oil for a softer feel and increased moisture resistance, this leather develops traces of wear and character after short-term use.
Patent Leather
Leather coated with a distinctive polish for a glossy, reflective finish. It makes an instant statement, and is often seen in men’s dress shoes.
Pull Up Leather
Infused with oils and waxes for a natural look, this leather looks exceptionally unique with prolonged wear. That’s because when it’s stretched or pulled, the oils move within the material, resulting in varied hues and tones.Infused with oils and waxes for a natural look, this leather looks exceptionally unique with prolonged wear. That’s because when it’s stretched or pulled, the oils move within the material, resulting in varied hues and tones.
Split/Blended/Bonded Leather
A mix of natural and synthetic leathers.
Tumbled Leather
This leather is gently scraped with pebbles for added texture and softness.
Waxed Leather
This leather is gently scraped with pebbles for added texture and softness.
Vachetta Leather
This raw and unfinished leather is extremely lightweight and thin, but durable.
Prints & Patterns
Some of our regulars.
Dots
Simply a series of circles, you’ll typically find dot patterns split into two camps. If they’re big, they’re called polka dots; if not, they’re usually very small and spaced like a grid.
Floral
A motif based in nature, florals are a catch-all term that typically refers to a print made up of flowers. Leaves, trees, and branches are also fair game.
Gingham
Gingham contrasts a colored warp with a white weft to create its famous grid of alternating squares.
Paisley
Associated with psychedelic ‘60s style, paisley actually first came to prominence around 1500. This pattern features tear-dropped shapes with curved ends and a whole lot of curlicues. This is a well-loved print for men’s shirts and ties.
Plaid
Technically known as tartan, this traditional and ultra-popular pattern consists of crossing horizontal and vertical bands of color. Plaid comes in an infinite number of forms, and plaid shirts are absolute staples for everyone.
Stripes
Made up of one or more parallel lines, stripes are great at drawing the eye and placing emphasis on different aspects of your body. Contrary to popular belief, horizontal stripes actually do make you look thinner, so pair them with skinny khaki pants.