When you look at a camouflage fabric, the first thought that comes to mind is the military. Since the pattern is globally recognized for its military associations, the perception is quite on point. However, the use of camouflage is not limited to the military only. It is widely used for training apparel, hunting gear, and even in fashion, home décor, and accessories.
Over the years, camouflage fabric has evolved considerably, paving the way for the formation of its multiple variants and types, whereby some variations have also been incorporated with unique technology to extend its use for various circumstances.
If you, too, are intrigued by camouflage fabric, read this post to learn what camouflage fabric is, how it is made, and its various kinds.
What Is Camouflage Fabric?
If we consider the camouflage pattern, it may be defined as a type of protective coloration technique that incorporates methods like countershading, adornment, or disrupting coloration. The pattern is formed via a combination of colors and arrangements to make an animal or object difficult to see by helping them to blend in through the replication of tones and colors of the surroundings.
The concept of camouflage formation is based on the notion of forming a design that makes it easier to become inconspicuous by blending in with the surrounding environment and reducing the visibility of the user.
How is camouflage fabric made?
Camouflage fabric is made by weaving together various colored threads to form a pattern mimicking the natural surroundings. The process of combining threads and colors, weaving, dyeing, etc., is quite intricate and challenging. The choice of patterns or colors depends mainly on the fabric’s intended purpose, like hunting, military, or otherwise.
The fabric features shapes and color patterns that replicate the natural environment, like rocks, leaves, or trees. It is the pattern of shapes and colors that make camouflage fabric an ideal choice for making military uniforms.
Besides the military, the fabric is used to make outdoor or training apparel or hunting gear. Moreover, the use of camouflage has become a novelty in the fashion industry, whereby it is used in unique ways to create fashionable apparel or home décor accessories.
Use of Camouflage in clothing- A brief background
The use of camouflage for making military apparel can be traced back to the nineteenth century, when armies were required to improve their techniques for concealing during combat, given the improvement in accuracy and growth in the range of firearms used in combat. The first army to introduce it was the British army, which replaced its scarlet jacket and replaced it with a green jacket amidst the Napoleonic wars. Meanwhile, the British army’s unit in India introduced Khaki to make the troops invisible to the opponents in accordance with the region’s landscape.
By the First World War, the development and use of camouflage had become widespread. A Cubist artist, Andre Mare, covered the artillery with a Cubist painting to help the troops conceal and deceive their enemy. The schemes and patterns for camouflage fabric further evolved during the Second World War so that the apparel could be adapted according to the surroundings in different terrains, consequently increasing its use.
The most common camouflage pattern that we see today, known commonly as PDM (disruptive pattern material), was introduced in 1963 by the British special forces. Today, numerous military forces worldwide have adopted and developed camouflage fabric by introducing various patterns to mimic the respective terrains.
However, the use of camouflage did not stay limited to the army only. The fabric found its way into the fashion industry in the twentieth century, for which Andre Mare’s cubist painting from the First World War was a major inspiration and a stepping stone. The use of camouflage apparel for civilians became popular in the 1960s when anti-war activists protested against the Vietnam War in the US wearing camouflage apparel. Soon camouflage could be seen on high-profile fashion shows and was deemed to be a highly versatile fabric with multiple uses, including home linen and decor.
3 Types of Camouflage Fabric
Today there are different kinds of camouflage fabrics in different materials, textures, color schemes, and patterns, making them suitable for various purposes. Some modern camouflage fabrics have been equipped with features to make them usable in specific conditions or circumstances.
One popular form of camouflage fabric is digital camo fabric, which features pixelated camouflage designs to form a pattern similar to computer-generated graphics. It comes in a wide range of colors and pattern sizes, making it a versatile fabric that can be used for a variety of fabrics.
Besides digital camouflage fabric, camouflage print is available in a variety of other types of fabrics. Read below to learn about three kinds of camouflage fabrics used for multiple purposes.
Camo bullet fabric
Bullet fabric, also known as Bullet Liverpool fabric, is a unique medium-weight fabric featuring a durable and smooth texture on one side and an interesting bullet texture on the other. It is a knit fabric made from a blend of spandex and polyester. Though the percentage of spandex in the bullet fabric is usually only 4 to 5%, it gives the fabric a two-way stretch, and when pulled, it easily reverts to its earlier form without getting stretched out.
Mostly known for its sturdiness, structural soundness, and integrity, bullet fabric is used for making apparel like jackets, shirts, skirts, dresses, blouses, and other such garments. Its versatility also makes it ideal for making accessories and household items.
Bullet fabric usually comes in a variety of color schemes and patterns, including animal and floral prints. Its durability and versatility also make it an ideal choice for making camouflage apparel, as it is easy to work with and maintain. Camo bullet fabric also comes in various patterns and color combinations and can be used for making dresses, lightweight jackets, tops, skirts, and accessories like headbands.
Camouflage techno fabric
Techno or technical fabric is a breathable fabric made from a blend of polyester. Made to be stretchy, lightweight, abrasion resistant, and waterproof, the fabric has a wide range of uses and applications, including industrial and military apparel.
Generally made from polyester with a blend of spandex, techno fabric is a textured knit or woven fabric with stretch and is heavyweight. It is made from cutting-edge textile technology, whereby comfort, workability, and durability are the priority. Fiber is twisted to make yarns which are then knitted or woven to form a durable and soft fabric.
Techno fabric comes in a variety of patterns, including geometric, abstract, and camouflage. Camouflage techno fabric comes in various color combinations and patterns and is used to make different kinds of apparel, shoes, or for household items.
Camo Melton fabric
Named after Melton Mowbray, a town in England, Melton fabric is a heavily milled, tightly woven woolen fabric, and its texture and thickness can be compared to boiled wool. Generally, Melton fabric is made with a blend of polyester, cotton, or viscose, giving it a smooth surface with a warm feel. It is used for making warm apparel and stylish winter accessories like handbags, belts, scarves, or hats and is also used for making warm bedding and upholstery.
Since earlier times, Camo Melton fabric has been used for making trousers, waistcoats, and military coats for use in cold weather to provide warmth and protection against wind and chilly weather. Today the use of this fabric in various camouflage prints for making coats, suits, and heavy weights jackets is quite popular.