Which fabric has excellent thermal retention and is used for outerwear and blankets?

• A. Corduroy
• B. Matelasse
• C. Double cloth
• D. Upholstery fabric

Answer: (C)

Warmth mainly comes from trapping air inside a fabric. Double cloth achieves this best because two fabric layers are woven together in one piece, creating a thick, multi-layer material with air pockets between and within the layers. That insulation makes it excellent at retaining heat, which is ideal for outerwear and blankets.

Corduroy can be warm due to its heft, but its ribbed surface isn’t about insulating two layers like double cloth. Matelasse has a quilted look and can be warm, yet it doesn’t offer the same level of thermal retention as a true two-layer weave. Upholstery fabric is built for durability and furniture use rather than warmth for wearing or bedding. So the distinctive two-layer construction of double cloth gives it superior insulation, fitting outerwear and blankets best.