What is GSM in fabric?
GSM stands for grams per square meter — the standard unit for how much a piece of fabric weighs relative to its size, independent of the garment's overall size or cut. A higher GSM means denser, heavier cloth. A t-shirt at 270 GSM is roughly double the weight of a typical retail tee; a caftan at 136 GSM is closer to the density of linen.
The number itself is simple, but it is the most honest thing a fabric label can tell you — more honest than “heavyweight” or “premium,” words that mean whatever the brand using them wants. GSM is measured the same way everywhere: weigh a fixed area of fabric, divide by that area. We measure ours in a lab, not off the factory’s paper spec (see “How is GSM measured”, below) — the two don’t always agree, and when they disagreed, we published the lab number.
Weight isn’t a ranking of quality. It’s a ranking of how the fabric behaves. A heavier weave holds its shape and stays where you put it. A lighter weave moves, breathes, and packs smaller. Neither is “better” — the question is what you want the fabric to do.
| Piece | GSM | Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| The Soft Layer | 340 | 100% Cotton |
| The Easy Trouser | 340 | 100% Cotton |
| The Quiet Sweatshirt | 282 | 95% Cotton / 5% Spandex (Lycra) |
| The Everyday Tee | 270 | 100% Cotton |
| The Weekend Trouser | 270 | 90% Cotton / 10% Polyester |
| The Long Quiet | 136 | 50% Jute / 50% Cotton |