What is cotton flannel?

A flannel is a particularly soft fabric that has been specially brushed to obtain a soft, fluffy, fuzzy texture. This brushing is usually done on one side for shirt fabrics, but there are fabrics brushed on both sides, especially for household linen. Initially, flannel was a fabric made with wool, since the beginning of the twentieth century, flannel is increasingly made with cotton, sometimes even mixed with silk. Its soft and comfortable feel makes it the perfect fabric to keep you warm all winter. Men's flannel is often embellished with plaid or tartan patterns. It is the most popular fabric for winter. Flannel has been made since the 17th century and most likely originated in Wales.

When can I wear flannel?

Because flannel is a warm, soft-touch fabric, it's generally a fabric you'll keep for cold seasons and wrap up in. A flannel shirt is like an oxford shirt with a thin down coat added to it. You can wear it from October to May or even in summer if it's cold. For this type of fabric, color combinations work in the same way as for an Oxford or poplin shirt, although the colors of a flannel shirt are generally close to fall colors (brown, beige, rust). And the associations with jeans, sweater or chino are simple.

How to care for your Première Manche flannel shirt?

A flannel is like good wine, it gets better with time... if it is well cared for. What stands out with our flannels is the softness of the fabric when you receive it. And this softness (good news) should not fade. The maintenance of a flannel is done as for a normal shirt: a machine wash at cold or 30 degrees is recommended (it can even be dry cleaned but it is not mandatory). Cotton being a natural material, the heat (beyond 40°) damages the fiber which may contract, shrink and eventually break. No particular precautions are required, but simply wash at low temperatures and do not dry.

Does flannel wrinkle easily?

No. Flannel does not wrinkle very much. But flannel shirts are mostly plain and dark (gray flannel, navy flannel, brown flannel, burgundy flannel) so wrinkles are less visible.

The Scottish (Tartan) or Canadian (lumberjack) patterns

The tartan is a pattern originating from Scotland composed of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines of several different colors. It is the main pattern of the flannel with the plain flannels. Every year, we try to offer one or more tartan or lumberjack patterns that are easily wearable.