Part 1 BTS | The Biggest Fashion Myth: Why Satin Is Not Actually a Material?

You know the feeling. You're holding a beautiful piece, you look at the label, and you try to decipher if it's right for your wardrobe. At the.nelabalas, we believe that quiet luxury and a truly functional capsule wardrobe don't start with colors, but with knowledge.

If you want to invest in quality that lasts for years, you need to start from the very basics. And right from the start, we'll debunk one of the biggest myths we encounter in fashion: "I prefer cotton to satin."

Sounds logical, right? But comparing cotton and satin is like comparing chocolate and cake. One is an ingredient, the other is a recipe. Let's break it down.

Step 1: Fiber (What is it made of?)

Imagine fiber as the basic raw material. It's what grows in the field, what's obtained from animals, or what's made in a laboratory. Fiber determines the basic properties of how you'll feel in the clothing – whether you'll be warm, whether the fabric will breathe, or whether you'll immediately sweat in it.

Cotton is exactly this – a fiber. It's obtained from the cotton plant, it's natural, breathable, matte, and fantastic to wear for everyday use. When you see "100% cotton" on the label, you know what raw material was used. However, that hardly tells you what the final fabric will look like. Cotton can be used to make thick denim, but also a delicate summer t-shirt.

Step 2: Weave (How is it woven?)

And here comes the metaphorical "recipe". Weave is the way individual fibers (like cotton ones) are interlaced on a loom.

And satin is a weave, not a material! It's a specific weaving technique where longitudinal threads predominate over transverse threads on the fabric's surface. The result? Light reflects off the surface in such a way that it creates that beautiful, typical luxurious sheen and an incredibly smooth surface.

Why does this difference matter so much?

Because you can weave almost any fiber with a satin weave!

• Cotton satin: It's breathable, strong, and has a subtle, matte sheen. It's the perfect balance between the comfort of cotton and the elegance of satin.
• Silk satin: The king of luxury. Cool, expensive, and extremely delicate.
• Polyester satin: This is exactly that piece from a fast-fashion chain that looks shiny in the changing room, but after an hour of wearing it, it electrifies, sticks to your body, and you feel like you're in a greenhouse.

When we designed our iconic satin trousers in the atelier, we were looking for the perfect intersection. We didn't want cheap polyester sheen, but we were looking for a fiber woven in a satin weave with a higher grammage that would ensure the fabric had the right, heavy "drape". One that looks confident, elegant, and sexy when walking, and at the same time doesn't wrinkle as soon as you sit down.

Summary for your next boutique visit:

• Cotton, linen, wool, viscose, polyester = raw material (fiber). It tells you how you will feel in it.
• Satin, velvet, flannel, tweed = weaving method (weave). It tells you how it will look and drape.

Once you know this difference, you'll stop shopping blindly. You'll gain control over what you wear, and your wardrobe will start to transform from a full closet of compromises to a well-thought-out collection of perfect pieces.

A tip from our atelier at the end: Now look at the labels of two different pieces in your closet that you thought were made of completely different materials. You might find that both are 100% cotton, just woven differently!

In the next installment of Behind the Seams, we'll look at individual types of weaves. We'll reveal how different ways of interlacing threads transform ordinary cotton into uncompromising denim, breathable canvas, or flowing luxury.