What Does GSM Mean in Thobe Fabric? A Practical Buyer’s Guide

If you have been looking for a "thobe" and found that there is a number and then “GSM” mentioned, you are not alone that has wondered what this means. So, what does GSM mean in thobe fabric? It tells you how heavy the cloth will be and the weight of the cloth determines how the thobe will feel, hang and cope with weather. This guide uses simple language to define the number and tells you how to utilize it when purchasing.

What Does GSM Mean in Thobe Fabric? 

GSM is grams per square metre. It indicates the weight per square metre of a material and can give an idea of whether the cloth is light, medium or heavy. It is measured by weighing a sample of the fabric that has been cut to a specific area and converting the measurement into grams per square metre.

This is a weight factor and not a quality score. The GSM could be the same number on two thobes yet they feel different due to different fibres and weaving. 

How GSM Changes a Thobe’s Feel, Warmth and Opacity

When you're shopping for a thobe, knowing the thobe fabric weight can help you understand how the garment will react once it reaches you. The basic form is: 

Lighter materials may look a little sheer, especially if not lined. For pale colours, that means most. 

Which GSM Suits Summer and Winter Thobes?

Lower GSM for Hot Weather

A lower GSM for an open and breathable weave is the smart way when considering heat, and when it comes to summer thobe fabric, it's generally selected for precisely those reasons. 

Higher GSM for Cold Weather

For cold weather, a higher GSM will retain more warmth and thus, a winter thobe fabric is dense, and a winter djelleba is a good example of a garment where weight makes a difference. 

There Is No Universal Thobe GSM Standard

One of the things you can count on, though, is that suiting guides will distinguish lightweight fabrics from heavy ones as under 250 GSM and over 300 GSM respectively but in the case of thobes, it is a loose guideline at best. In total, one UK retailer sells the Moroccan winter thobe with 370 GSM of polyester and rayon fabric. indochinoamsons.

How to Check a Thobe’s GSM Before You Buy

Read the Product Details

Check packaging for GSM, near the composition and care. If it's not there, the seller should be able to tell you, as it's a number that should be easy to determine. Don't judge just by name; Two items under a style name like Saudi kanduras can vary appreciably and you should compare their GSM and composition. 

A Hypothetical Example

You see there are two thobes, one of which still says“polyester blend”, but the other one has a much lower GSM. The lower one is probably cooler and the higher one will be warmer and more opaque. 

GSM Mistakes That Lead to the Wrong Thobe

The worst thing to do is to believe that more GSM is better quality. GSM is a measure of weight only; therefore, weave and fibre still have weight. Other things to avoid are purchasing a heavy fabric for a hot climate, using too pale of colours, and not realizing that headwear contributes many layers to the warmth. During summer, a ghutra keffiyeh will make a thobe look hot! It is also worth mentioning that washing the article of clothing causes GSM to increase due to the shrinkage of the fabric, so the GSM listed is just a guideline and not a guarantee.

Thobe Buying Checklist: What to Check Beyond GSM

If you are looking at the steps to take while you are figuring out how to choose a thobe, go around the following:

• The GSM, composition and weave together are the characteristics to be considered, not the GSM by itself.

• Pair up to your weather and climate, according to the season.

• If you're using pale colors, choose a higher GSM or lined or denser weave to prevent a "show-through.

• If not specified, ask for confirmation from the seller.

• Look at the care label and expect some shrinkage.

• When buying accessories like a kufi, check the weight and feel too. 

 Visit a Yemeni shemagh shop for some assistance to pick out a scarf or shemagh with a thobe; take care to compare the weight, as it will be more comfortable. 

Final Thoughts: Using GSM to Choose the Right Thobe

So, what does GSM mean in thobe fabric? GSM is a helpful yet not definitive piece of evidence. Follow up with composition and weave, compare to climates, and verify with the seller. After selecting the thobe, complete the outfit with accessories like the Egyptia banded kufi. 

GSM in Thobe Fabric FAQs

What does GSM stand for in a thobe?

A measure of fabric weight is grams per square metre. 

Is a higher GSM better for a thobe?

Not automatically. A high GSM will lead to higher weight and warmth, hence better for colder weather, but will be a burden in warm weather. 

How can I check GSM if it isn’t listed?

Ask the seller. GSM is determined by measuring one sample of a textile and converting the data in textile testing.