Northbeam Australia: Zip-Front Jacket Built on Cotton/Spandex 1x1 Rib Knit
Northbeam, based in Australia, needed a zip-front jacket that delivered colour fastness in dark shades without moving away from a clean, commercial silhouette. The finished fabric was Cotton/Spandex 1x1 Rib Knit.
Project brief and fabric selection
The fabric selected combines 1x1 Rib Knit (alternating face and reverse loops) with combed cotton with elastane, giving natural hand with shape retention. Construction is alternating face and reverse loops at 220-260 GSM. The brief also asked for plus strong recovery. Each lot was checked against ISO 105-C06 before cutting began.
Construction and fit decisions
Pattern and construction were adjusted around the chosen fabric: seam placement moved away from high-friction areas, stitch density was matched to the elastane content, and the fit block was revised once the first wear trial showed the panel tension distribution. The development brief set the outcome as wash fastness reached grade 4-5 on all shades.
Dyeing and finishing approach
Finishing was limited to processes that support colour fastness in dark shades. Soft handle came from construction rather than heavy softening, which keeps performance stable through repeated washing. Consistency between repeat lots mattered more to Northbeam than an isolated best result.
Measured results
Measured outcome: wash fastness reached grade 4-5 on all shades, verified by ISO 105-C06. Size sets were checked after five home washes to confirm that dimensional change stayed inside the agreed tolerance before bulk release. Fabric Cotton/Spandex 1x1 Rib Knit supplied the base behaviour for colour fastness in dark shades.
Repeat order performance
The style moved to repeat orders after two seasons. Bulk fabric is now booked against a fixed recipe, with test reports issued per lot, and the 1x1 Rib Knit construction is used for additional colourways in the same programme. The Australia market requires documentation, so reports shipped with every lot.
