Home > Fabrics > Waterproof Fabrics

For The most protection... choose Waterproof and Breathable.
These fabrics let the water vapours that we generate pass out through the fabric BUT do not allow the bigger raindrops to get to you! (…kind of the way that your skin does!) The most suitable for strenuous activity and/or harsh weather.

When we make our own sportswear we can choose the right outer shell fabric for our specific needs.

Before you start...ask the questions:

• How active will I be?
• In what climates and seasons will I wear this?
• How much do I want to spend?
• And, of course, which of all the great colours is me?!

The fabric that we are not allowed to call by it’s real name! (You know, starts with a G, has 7 letters and ends with an x). The W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., after acknowledging that this fabric was authentic, recently demanded that we “cease using the designation “G__-__x®”. We are happy to oblige (they are the Big Boys in the Outerwear industry – way bigger than little old Textile Outfitters!) We will not refer to this fabric by its real name any more! We will simply call it the “Best Waterproof Breathable Fabric” or BWBF for short!

Guide To Our Waterproof Breathable Fabrics:

NOTE: All "per metre" prices listed below are for pieces 1 metre (or 39 inches) long by 150 centimetres (or 60 inches) wide, unless otherwise specified. All prices are in those tremendously small Canadian dollars (check the current exchange rate)!

• Start with a new sharp needle – we want those little holes to be as small as possible, ideally use Microtex needles by Schmetz.
  
• Change your needle frequently. Nylons and polyesters dull it quickly.
  
• 100% Polyester thread, of course.
  
• Use a longer stitch – your garment isn’t tight so seams aren’t under great stress. We want to minimize the number of little holes.
  
• Keep your fabric taut but not tight! Practice your topstitching on a scrap.
  
• Puckering or sticking problems? Try a Teflon presser foot, a walking foot or tissue paper, or old yellow pages as you sew.
  (One-ply Toilet paper works great! It’s already cut into a handy width.)
  

Simple – seal them up with Seam Sealing Tape. Just iron on after you’ve sewn and trimmed the seams. Easy instructions included… just tell us how much you need.

• Keep it clean. Keep it clean. Keep it clean. (Get the idea?)
  
• Dirt is the enemy!
  
• Wash it frequently with powdered detergent. Double rinse – detergent residue is as bad as dirt! Dry in a hot dryer for a short period of time, so the heat can reactivate the surface water repellency. Touching up with the iron helps too. Treating it with a Nikwax water–repellent spray is a great idea if your garment is getting on in years.