The Men's Shirt Fabric Library
The FabricLibrary
The cloth beneath the print — every fabric we use, what it is, how it wears, and how to care for it.
A shirt is only ever as good as the cloth it is printed on. The same artwork can look flat or feel alive depending on the fibre beneath it — the sheen of a satin weave, the drape of a lyocell, the crisp bite of a poplin. For over twenty years, Claudio Lugli has chosen its fabrics as carefully as its prints, matching each design to the cloth that makes it sing. This is the reference: the fabrics we print on, what each one is, how it wears, and how to look after it.
One rule guides every choice. The fabric should serve both the print and the person wearing it — comfortable on the skin, honest about the season, and built to last as a limited edition rather than a throwaway. Read it alongside our companion Print Glossary, and you will know exactly what you are buying before it reaches your door.
Satin-Weave Egyptian Cotton
Egyptian cotton is grown from extra-long-staple fibres in the Nile delta. Those longer fibres spin into a finer, stronger, smoother yarn with fewer joins — which means less pilling and a natural lustre. Woven in a satin structure, the surface catches the light and gives colour real depth.
The Claudio Lugli take: this is our house cloth for statement prints. The subtle sheen carries baroque golds, paisley detail and dark-ground florals with the depth the artwork deserves — the reason a Claudio Lugli print reads rich rather than flat.
Fluid, cool against the skin, and dressy enough for evening. Wash cool and press on the reverse to protect the sheen.
TENCEL™ Lyocell
TENCEL is a lyocell fibre spun from sustainably sourced wood pulp in a closed-loop process that recovers almost all of its solvent. The result drapes like silk, breathes like cotton, wicks moisture and biodegrades at the end of its life — and it takes print colour vividly.
The Claudio Lugli take: our choice for fluid, modern prints and warm-weather shirts. The drape moves with you and keeps its cool on a hot day, without sacrificing the vividness of the artwork.
Soft, cool and forgiving. A gentle cool wash, hang to dry, and a low iron only if needed.
Linen & Summer Weaves
Linen is woven from flax and has been the hot-weather cloth of choice for centuries. It is highly breathable, naturally thermoregulating, and grows softer with every wash. Its gentle slub texture and relaxed crease are not flaws — they are the point.
The Claudio Lugli take: reserved for our most relaxed summer shirts, where breathability and an easy, lived-in hand matter more than a hard press.
Cool and breathable — embrace the crease. Wash cool and dry flat or on the line.
Cotton Poplin
Poplin — or broadcloth — is a tightly woven plain weave with a fine warp that gives a smooth, crisp, closely-set surface. It holds structure, keeps a collar sharp, and renders fine print detail cleanly.
The Claudio Lugli take: the crisp counterpoint to our satin weaves, used where a print needs sharp definition, and across our printed boxer shorts and matching sets.
Structured and easy to press crisp. A cool wash and a warm iron, and it is ready to go.
Flocking & Velvet-Touch
Flocking is a specialist finish: fine fibres are bonded to the cloth to build a raised, velvet-soft texture you can feel as well as see. It turns a flat print into something tactile — a detail that reads as luxury up close.
The Claudio Lugli take: our textured flocking shirts bring a velvet-style finish to florals and stripes — evening pieces designed to be touched as much as seen.
A statement for occasions. Wash inside out on a cool cycle, and never iron directly over the raised areas.
Non-Iron Cotton
Non-iron cotton is finished so the fibres resist creasing — the shirt comes out of the wash smooth and ready, with little or no ironing. It is the fabric for travel, for the office, and for anyone who would rather not reach for an iron.
The Claudio Lugli take: our Non-Iron range delivers a textured, structured cotton that stays sharp from bag to boardroom, in classic and check designs.
Wash and hang — that is genuinely it. Minimal ironing, maximum convenience.
Bamboo
Bamboo-derived fabric is prized for being exceptionally soft, breathable and naturally temperature-regulating — which is why we reserve it for the pieces worn closest to the skin.
The Claudio Lugli take: our bamboo boxer shorts pair everyday softness with all-day breathability, in classic plains and prints.
Soft and cool all day. A gentle cool wash keeps it at its best.
The print gets the attention, but the cloth is where the quality lives. Choose the wrong fabric and even the best artwork falls flat — so we start with the cloth, every time.Hoss Salimian — Founder, Claudio Lugli
Questions, answered
Linen and TENCEL are the coolest to wear. Choose linen for a relaxed, breathable hand that softens over time, and TENCEL for a fluid drape that keeps its cool while showing a print vividly. Both are cut for warm-weather and resort dressing.
Satin-weave Egyptian cotton gives the most depth and sheen, which is why we use it for our richest baroque, paisley and floral prints. Cotton poplin is the choice where a print needs crisp, sharp definition rather than lustre.
Our Non-Iron range needs little to none — wash and hang. Satin cotton and poplin press easily to a crisp finish, and linen is meant to be worn with its natural, relaxed crease rather than pressed flat.
Turn it inside out, wash on a cool cycle, and avoid ironing directly over the raised flocked areas — iron the reverse or the plain sections only. Treated gently, the velvet-style finish keeps its texture for years.
TENCEL is a closed-loop lyocell spun from responsibly sourced wood pulp, and we choose bamboo, natural linen and long-staple cotton for their longevity. Every design is a limited edition, made once and built to last — not to be repeated or thrown away.
Feel the difference
Every Claudio Lugli piece is designed in London and cut in the fabric that suits it best. Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot, 4.8/5 from 1,200+ reviews. Available in 9 sizes, S–6XL.
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