Basic Knowledge About Interlining for Garments

Interlining is a supporting material placed between the outer fabric and the lining of a garment. It gives fabric extra body, improves shape retention, and helps key garment parts stay stable during sewing, wearing, washing, and dry cleaning.

In apparel production, interlining is commonly used in collars, cuffs, plackets, waistbands, pocket flaps, jacket fronts, lapels, and reinforcement areas. The right interlining can make a shirt collar look crisp, help a suit front keep its structure, and prevent lightweight fabrics from stretching or distorting during production.

Main Types of Interlining

• Woven interlining: Made with warp and weft yarns, suitable for garments that require strength, dimensional stability, and a clean tailored shape.
• Non-woven interlining: Made from bonded fibers, usually lightweight, economical, and widely used in shirts, casualwear, uniforms, and mass-production garments.
• Knitted or tricot interlining: Designed for fabrics that need stretch, softness, and better movement, such as elastic or knitted garments.
• Fusible interlining: Coated with hot-melt adhesive so it can bond to the shell fabric under controlled temperature, pressure, and time.

How to Choose Interlining

Selection should be based on the outer fabric, garment part, desired hand feel, washing requirements, and fusing conditions. Before bulk production, factories should test bonding strength, shrinkage, bubbling, strike-through, hand feel, and appearance after washing or dry cleaning.

A suitable interlining improves garment quality from the inside. It supports the fabric without making the finished garment too stiff, heavy, or uncomfortable.