Start from the silhouette
Structured shapes (shirt dresses, blazers) need fabrics with body: poplin, linen, dobby. Fluid shapes (slip dresses, bias skirts, tiered maxis) need drape: viscose, voile, light linen blends.
Linen and linen blends
The signature resort fabric: breathable, textured and better with washing. Blends with cotton or viscose soften the handle and reduce creasing.
Cotton voile and poplin
Voile is light and airy for kaftans and blouses; poplin is crisp for shirts and shirt dresses. Both carry embroidery and eyelet well.
Viscose
Unbeatable for printed, fluid pieces. Specify shrinkage limits and care instructions carefully, as viscose can shrink and weaken when wet.
Test before you commit
Ask for wash tests on the sample fabric: shrinkage, colour fastness and how the fabric looks after washing. That is what your customer will experience.