Fabric terminology

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

GSM means grams per square metre. It describes how much a square metre of that cloth weighs, not how a garment will feel in the hand by itself. A 110 GSM voile and a 110 GSM jersey can share a number and still cut, drape and cover very differently because construction is not part of the GSM figure.

Crisp fine-count cotton poplin fabric in soft folds

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What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

Why fabric GSM changes the brief

Buyers use GSM to keep a weight conversation precise across mills and seasons. It is the usual way to separate a summer shirt cloth from a mid-weight trouser cloth, and to check whether a sample still matches the weight written on an inquiry.

On FabStitch, read the published weight beside composition and construction. Compare GSM only among similar constructions: woven with woven, knit with knit. Then open the fabric page and the related collection rather than treating the number as a quality score.

Using fabric GSM on a real cloth

Choose a lower GSM when the brief needs air and drape, and a higher GSM when the brief needs cover, structure or abrasion resistance. State both the target GSM and the construction in a sourcing inquiry so the shortlist stays comparable.

GSM does not prove thread count, opacity, or shrinkage. A coated or heavily finished cloth can weigh more without feeling denser in wear. Always pair the number with a hand description and the garment it is meant for.

What to avoid with fabric GSM

Keep the decision tied to fabric GSM, not to a swapped synonym.
Use only specs published on the fabric page.
Inquire with quantity and end use when a cloth matches.

Frequently asked questions

Is a higher GSM always better?

No. Higher GSM usually means more weight, not better quality. The right GSM is the one that matches the garment, season and construction.

Can two fabrics share a GSM and still differ?

Yes. Weave or knit, yarn size and finish change hand and opacity even when the GSM matches.

Continue with published FabStitch fabrics

Open the marketplace or a related collection, compare the specs that are actually published, and inquire when a cloth matches the brief.

Open marketplace Fabric sourcing

More fabric weight & education topics

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

Why fabric GSM changes the brief

Using fabric GSM on a real cloth

What to avoid with fabric GSM

Keep the decision tied to fabric GSM, not to a swapped synonym.

Use only specs published on the fabric page.

Inquire with quantity and end use when a cloth matches.

Frequently asked questions

Is a higher GSM always better?

No. Higher GSM usually means more weight, not better quality. The right GSM is the one that matches the garment, season and construction.

Can two fabrics share a GSM and still differ?

Yes. Weave or knit, yarn size and finish change hand and opacity even when the GSM matches.

What are you looking for?

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

Why fabric GSM changes the brief

Using fabric GSM on a real cloth

What to avoid with fabric GSM

Frequently asked questions

Continue with published FabStitch fabrics

Related pages

More fabric weight & education topics

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

What fabric GSM means for a garment brief

Why fabric GSM changes the brief

Using fabric GSM on a real cloth

What to avoid with fabric GSM

Frequently asked questions

Continue with published FabStitch fabrics

Related pages

More fabric weight & education topics