Drill Fabric Mills

What Drill Is

Drill is a durable woven fabric in a steep twill weave, traditionally cotton, whose diagonal lines run more prominently and at a sharper angle than in a standard twill. The formal Drill Fabric Definition in the definitions section states the construction precisely. Drill's family tree explains its character: it shares the twill structure of denim and gabardine but is usually woven piece-dyed or yarn-dyed in solid colors - khaki above all - rather than denim's indigo-warp form, and it is woven to medium and heavy weights that favour abrasion resistance over drape. The British military's khaki drill uniform cloth made the fabric's name and color famous on several continents.

Because the twill packs yarns densely, drill resists tearing and wearing through at knees, seats and elbows better than a plain weave of the same yarn, and the diagonal surface sheds a surprising amount of dust and dry soil. Those virtues kept drill in service cloth for over a century: uniforms, aprons, work trousers, chef's and trades clothing, and the internal parts of garments - pocketing drill is a standard hidden component of tailored trousers - where strength matters more than softness. Polyester-cotton drills add crease resistance and colorfastness for the uniform rental trade, while pure cotton drill remains the choice where breathability and a natural hand are specified.

Buying and Using Drill

Specifying drill means naming weight, fiber and color together, then checking the two numbers uniform buyers live by: shrinkage and colorfastness to washing. Drill is bought on contract in repeat colors - a khaki that drifts between dye lots is a visible failure on a uniformed workforce - so lot-to-lot shade continuity should be agreed before the first order, with retained shade standards held by both sides. Finish options change the cloth's working life considerably: crease-resist and soil-release finishes for service wear, flame-retardant treatments for industrial contracts, and sanforization to hold the sizing that trousers are cut to. Weight choice follows the garment's working life: lighter drills serve shirts, linings and summer service dress, mid weights carry the standard trouser and jacket trade, and the heaviest drills are reserved for garments and covers expected to survive years of abrasive work and industrial laundering without wearing through.

Around this directory, the Fabric Directory hub covers the wider twill family - denim, duck and gabardine among them - and the trade runs through the Machinery directory, Clothing Industry Factories, Yarn Factories, Fabric Retail and Fabric Wholesalers, with the Fibers Directory and Fabric Definitions alongside. Several mills here also weave the canvas and duck cloths listed elsewhere in this directory - heavy twill and plain-weave work cloths naturally share looms and dye houses.

Using This Directory

This directory lists eleven mills, each linked to its own profile in the Fabric Mills by Name section; countries are stated for Ahmed Fine Textile Mills (Pakistan), Best Textiles International (China), G.S. Kankariya (India), Textiles Rio Lindo (Honduras) and Wazir Group (Pakistan), and the remaining profiles carry their own locations. Industry readers also use Fashion Industry News, Clothing Industry Employment and Conversion Charts. For uniform programmes, ask early about a mill's stocked colors and repeat-order minimums - drill is a continuity fabric, and the best price on a cloth that cannot be re-matched next season is no bargain. Thank you for using the Apparel Search Fabric Mill Directory.

Drill Fabric Mills Listed in This Directory