Ponte Roma Fabric: The Perfect Blend of Comfort and Structure

Ponte Roma fabric is a highly durable double-knit fabric that is well known for its characteristics. The name “Ponte Roma” can be translated as a Roman bridge since the woven structure reflects Roman bridges. While many fabrics can wear out easily or lack a smooth finish, Ponte Roma is a combination of durability, comfort, and recovery. It is the favourite material to work with among the designers and manufacturing industries to produce high-quality garments that offer both looks and comfort. The unique properties of this fabric make it ideal for applications in workwear, casual wear, and sportswear. 

What is Ponte Roma fabric?

Ponte Roma is also called Ponte di Roma, which can be translated to “bridge of Rome.” The structure of the fabric reflects the Roman bridges, thus called Porte Roma. The origin of this material was in Italy. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Italian engineers designed this fabric. They created it with two layers of fabric, knitted with two sets of needles, to form a double knit structure and give it a horizontal ribbed look. The fabric is soft and strong, and it resists wrinkles. Engineers produced it using a mixture of natural and synthetic fibres. The most common materials used are 66% rayon, 4% spandex, 30% nylon, polyester, cotton, and wool. Due to the high presence of nylon, the fabric becomes soft and breathable, allowing it to be worn all day.. All these mixtures of fibres make the fabric suitable for clothing like formal and casual wear, as it doesn't crease or wrinkle and is comfortable. The fabric quickly gained its place among the best fabrics for garments. 

Characteristics of Ponte Roma fabric 

Versatility 

The fabric is well known for its wide variety of uses. The fabric is comfortable and less stretchy, which makes it more famous. Designers use this lightweight fabric for a wide range of fashionable and structured wear instead of simple and plain clothes. They create dresses, skirts, blazers, trousers, and many other garments with it.

Easy to Care

Double-knit fabric holds its shape well after cutting. In contrast, other fabrics, like jersey knits, are more fluid and lose their shape once separated. When used for dresses, double-knit fabric doesn’t curl up or fray, and it avoids noticeable creases.

Availability 

Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, manufacturers can now easily produce Ponte Roma fabric. The abundance of raw materials has significantly increased the mass production of this fabric over the past decades.

Breathability 

The fabric is lightweight, which makes anything made with this fabric super breathable. Clothes made from this fabric are comfortable, soft, and breathable. 

Warmth

The fabric is suitable for most weather conditions. The thinner Ponte Roma fabric provides great warmth, comfort, and fit, making it ideal for the autumn and winter seasons.

Less Stretchy 

The fabric doesn't stretch too much, which helps it retain its shape for a long time. Since there is a large percentage of spandex and nylon present in the fabric, it can easily retain its original shape and always provide you with a polished look. Even after frequent washes, the clothes don't wrinkle or overstretch. 

Types of Ponte Roma Fabric  

Lightweight ponte is a popular fabric for garments, but other fabrics with varying densities and properties are also available.

Lightweight Ponte Roma 

The lightness and thickness of the fabric make it suitable for making great summer wear such as tops, t-shirts, skirts, and pants. The smooth texture of this fabric makes it suitable for professional looks and fit for office wear and casual looks. The fabric is also long-lasting and wrinkle-free. It takes about 100–150 grammes of this fabric to make lightweight and breathable garments. 

Midweight Ponte Roma 

grammes of midweight Ponte Roma fabric is thicker than the lightweight Ponte fabric. This fabric is better suited for winter clothes like blazers, jackets, and coats. It takes about 150–200 grammes of fabric to make warm, soft, and comfortable clothes. 

Heavyweight Ponte Roma 

The fabric is thicker than other fabrics. It takes about 200–250 grammes of fabric to make thick and tough clothing. 

Ponte Roma Processing Techniques 

Double Knitting 

Double-knit fabric is different from ingle-knit fabric. The double-knit fabric technique includes a double layer of fabrics interlocking each other. This method makes the fabric more durable and resistant to tear and wear. 

High Density 

The fabric undergoes high-density weaving, which results in a smooth finish. The clothes made from these fabrics are usually smooth, appealing, dense, and durable. 

Dyeing 

The fabric goes through a dyeing process to ensure long-lasting shine and colour. It ensures the safety and longevity of the fabric and the colour under rough washes and sunlight. 

How do you Get Rid of Stretches and Wrinkles?

Although Ponte Roma fabric is excellent at holding itself from wrinkles, stretches, and creases, it might get stressed out and can be recovered.

Snagging 

There will be rare cases when you'll come across a problem like snagging. The fix is really simple. All you need to do is rectify the snag with the help of a needle and thread. 

Stretching 

Although Ponte Roma fabric is great against stretch, after a long time of usage, the fabric might start to stretch out. One of the most common and easiest fixes is to dip the cloth in cold water, and the fabric will start to retain its original shape once again. Stop using hot water to wash your clothes. Instead, use cold water and a gentle wash. 

Wrinkles 

After a wash or two, you might see small or minor wrinkles. Simply press or steam the clothes to fix them. For permanent wrinkles, wash and dry the clothes on high heat. That should get rid of all the wrinkles in your clothes. 

Conclusion 

Ponte Roma fabric is one of the best choices for many fashion designers and companies. The construction of this fabric made it suitable for tailored and fashionable garments. The fabric is highly durable and does not stretch out over a long time. The smoothness and texture of this fabric provide a polished appearance. It offers a greater possibility of creativity, comfort, and luxury. Porte Roma fabric offers a great range of colour selections and patterns to make astonishing designs. The fabric is easy to work with, and you don't have to be a professional designer.