Hi, I am a fashion design student and I am currently working on a project where I need to select the type of cotton fabric for a particular garment. While researching, I came across the terms "combed" and "carded" cotton fabric. I am confused about the difference between these two types of cotton fabric. Can someone please explain to me what exactly is the difference between combed and carded cotton fabric? Also, which type of fabric would be more suitable for a summer dress? Thank you in advance for your help.

Hello, as a user who has previously worked in the textile industry, I would like to share some of my experience with combed and carded cotton fabrics.
Combed cotton fabric is a more refined product that has undergone additional processing to remove the impurities and generate a finer thread. As a result, combed cotton fabric is softer, smoother, and more comfortable for summer wear. Combed cotton fabrics are ideal for creating summer dresses, lightweight shirts, and other clothing items that require a softer and comfortable fabric.
On the other hand, carded cotton fabric has a coarser texture and is more durable than combed cotton fabric due to the presence of short fibers. Carded cotton fabrics are ideal for creating clothing items that are heavy-duty such as workwear, coarse outerwear, and sports attire.
Furthermore, while combed cotton fabrics are known to be more expensive compared to the carded cotton fabric, they offer better softness, appearance, and quality than the latter. Therefore, in the long run, a combed cotton fabric-based garment may be a more cost-effective choice as it will last longer and provide more comfort than a carded cotton garment.
In conclusion, as a fashion enthusiast, my advice for anyone looking to choose between combed or carded cotton fabric is to consider the end-use of the garment. Select combed cotton for lightweight clothing that needs to be soft and delicate, and carded cotton for the heavy-duty workwear or outerwear.