As a popular loomed fabric that is still produced by hand in some parts of China, nankeen has been around for a long time and has an illustrious history when it comes to making clothing for a number of occasions. Here is some background on nankeen, as well as some examples of how the nankeen cloth is used.

Originally, nankeen was always produced with natural cotton fiber that had a yellow tint. Using looms to weave the fibers into material, the finished product was a cotton cloth that had a brown as well as a yellow hue, sometimes described as dull yellow.

Named after Naking, the area within China known as Silk Road for its many fine fabrics, nankeen became so popular that it was not possible to cultivate enough of the yellowed cotton in order to produce the nankeen fabric. Over time, a process was implemented to dye pure white cotton fibers with a yellow dye, so enough nankeen could be produced to keep up with the demand.

Today, most nankeen fabrics are produced with modern textile methods, although it is still possible to buy hand woven nankeen for a steep price. The demand for nankeen has not be impacted a great deal with the invention of newer synthetic fibers, since nankeen can be easily produced at a very inexpensive rate using those contemporary methods.

One of the advantages of nankeen is that it is an all cotton fabric, which makes it attractive to people who are not able to wear synthetic fibers, or who prefer to go with natural fibers only. With durable construction that will last for a number of years, nankeen is easily washed by hand or in a washing machine. As it true with many cotton fabrics today, nankeen is treated for shrinkage before the material is used to make any type of textile goods.

Perhaps the single most popular application of nankeen is in the manufacture of casual trousers for men. The cotton material holds up well to a lot of wear and since nankeen will take dye very well, the nankeen slacks and trousers come in a rainbow of colors. One of the most popular is blue nankeen, as it lends itself well to daily use in the home and around the workplace as well. Along with trousers, nankeen also is used for simple casual shirts and some sports clothing as well.

As a fabric option that combines easy care with simple good looks, nankeen has a loyal audience of users all around the world. From something casual but nice to wear on weekends to daily office attire and even to the gym, nankeen can take you just about anywhere.