Circular knits are ITJV's true specialty. In this article, we'll share with you exactly what they are, how they're created, and their main features.
If you are interested in knowing all about circular knitted fabrics and discover if these are a good option for you, then read on.
In practice, circular knits are the end result of the circular knitting process. Its wide acceptance by consumers is mostly associated with its soft touch on the skin – one of their main characteristics.
For this reason, a large part of the articles created with circular knitted fabrics are precisely the articles whose contact with the skin is greater.
Sportswear, beachwear, or pajamas are but a few of several examples of this.
More recently, the fashion world has also been increasingly adopting an urban style and the growth of the “athleisure” market segment has also benefited from some of its advantages: they are lightweight pieces that allow the body to breathe and the wearer to keep their flexibility of movement.
However, these characteristics also apply to other areas, as is the case of home decoration or textile articles for the home, such as bedding. This is precisely because of their ability to let the air circulate, regulating body temperature more effectively.
Below, we'll cover this and other features, but first, let's see how they're created.
Circular knitted fabrics are created using a specialized machine called a circular loom. This is an industrial-sized machine invented exclusively for this purpose.
The circular loom has the shape of a circle, in which a cartridge of needles runs around its entire circumference, creating circular knitted fabrics from yarns composed of natural, artificial, or synthetic fibers.
Its structure is created through a specific tuning for the desired article that regulates the tension placed on the threads and the way in which they are to be interlaced. This is how we create our articles, but it is also how their characteristics are achieved.
One of the main features of circular knits is the way the threads intersect each other, in the form of a loop. As such, the threads, even if crisscrossed, do not have a fixed connecting point. Without this point, circular knitted fabrics gain the following characteristics:
Flexibility
Because a fixed point does not exist, they support themselves. This means that they move with each other, presenting a greater resistance to the tension force and molding themselves perfectly to the human body.
Elasticity
The lack of a fixed point is also the reason why they become more elastic. Because they move with each other, after a moment of tension they return to their initial position.
Breathability
As we saw above, circular knitted fabrics allow the air to circulate and permit the exchange of heat with the surrounding environment. At higher temperatures, body heat is absorbed by the air, while at colder temperatures they act as a thermal insulation, allowing the body to stay warm.
Stability
In this case, stability refers to the size of the final product, be it a garment or a piece of decoration. Once achieved, the size of the final product will be maintained over time.
Circular knits can be created in three different types, depending on the fibers used. In the case of ITJV, we work with three different types of fibers: natural fibers, artificial fibers, and synthetic fibers.
Natural circular knitted fabrics are produced from natural fibers. ITJV works with about a dozen natural fibers, from cotton to silk, including Merino Wool or nettle fiber.
The same happens with synthetic type: these are produced from synthetic fibers such as Polyester or Elastane, but also Lurex or Polyamide.
Within the artificial type, we find some of the most technologically advanced fibers on the market. These allow us to create circular knitted fabrics in SeaCell or Tencel – Lyocell, but also others whose characteristics are much more specific.
With Flame Retardant Viscose, for example, it is possible to create fire resistant products. With Cell Solution Protection, the final articles are more suitable for contexts in which the contact with nature is greater.
ITJV is one of the most recognized manufacturers in the Portuguese market. Altogether, we work with around 30 different types of fibers, in order to be able to respond to an increasingly diverse market.
For this reason, we also work with technologically advanced fibers, but also with fibers that reflect current environmental concerns, such as Recycled Polyester, Organic Cotton or Supima®, or the Lenzing™ Lyocell RB.
At ITJV, all our fibers are available only through catalog request and sample validation. Get in touch with our teams directly
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