The London Lounge

What material do you have coat linings made from? What considerations influence your choice?

Lear, Brown and Dunsford Viscose Satin in their range T342-72.

This is a good heavy satin (162gms) which adds a great deal to a coat. I far prefer a smooth feel to the ling which is good when being taken on or off. It also tends to hold its shape exceptionally well. Presently I favour matching linings although this has differed in the past and may again in the future.

RJ Weldon has a great selection of linings as well.

Mostly I leave the choice up to my tailor, who has a good deal of fun making the choice and does it well.

Michael

Is synthetic lining the standard choice? And if so, for what reasons?

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I thought it was quite appropriate.

My tailor says that viscose (U.S. rayon) linings such as bemberg are more breathable and more durable than silk, which is presumably the non-synthetic lining you have in mind. Viscose satin indeed has a heavy and luxurious feel, while Ermazine viscose taffeta is harder wearing and among the most breathable linings for wear in warm conditions.

It's worth noting that though technically a synthetic fiber, viscose is processed from cellulose (wood pulp) rather than from petroleum, as nylon and polyester are, so its absorption and vapor transfer properties are more like polished cotton than like a nylon shell.

Young Lawyer


Any thoughts - what did you have in your tail coat and what are your thoughts for the tweed you have commissioned?

Thank you for your replies.
I had a viscose in the tails - purely for the practical reason that it was relatively hard-wearing in comparision to silk, and would see plenty of (fairly athletic!) use.
I've never had a coat lined with silk, and I wondered whether viscose had become the standard choice. I'm still unsure about the tweed project, although I'd better hurry up with it to have any use out of it this year!