Guy Milinazzo

The Fabric Guy

What does "Super" Really Mean?

Many years ago, Sy Syms built an entire company around one simple belief:

"An educated consumer is our best customer."

I've always admired that philosophy.

After nearly fifty years in the fabric business, I'd take it one step further.

An educated clothier creates the best-dressed customer.

The more we understand our products, the more confidence we have in presenting them. That confidence becomes trust. And trust is ultimately what clients buy.

So let's begin with one of the most discussed–and perhaps misunderstood–terms in our industry:

"The Supers": Super 120's. Super 150's. Super 180's and beyond... Four sheep in a meadow with snow-capped mountains in the background. In the foreground to the left is a pile of fabrics

Almost every customer has heard these numbers. Many assume that a higher number automatically means a better fabric.

Not exactly.

The Super number refers to one characteristic of the wool fiber: its diameter, measured in microns, or millionths of a meter. The finer the fiber, the higher the Super number.

A chart for Super Numbers against Micron and some associated facts, shown on a tablet being held by a pair of hands resting on a wooden table

That's important.

But it's only one piece of the story.

Imagine buying a car based solely on horsepower. Horsepower matters–but so do handling, reliability, comfort, braking and many other characteristics.

Fine wool is no different.

When selecting wool, a mill is interested in more than micron. The strength, elasticity and length of the fiber are also important, and together these characteristics help determine what the fiber can become and how the finished cloth can perform.

A person in a check shirt classing wool. Only the person's torso and arms are visible - their face is out of shot

Strength matters because the fiber has to withstand the processes of spinning, weaving and finishing, as well as the demands placed upon the finished garment.

Elasticity and resilience contribute to how well a cloth recovers after being worn–particularly its ability to resist and recover from wrinkling–and play a part in the way the finished fabric handles and drapes.

Fiber length helps determine how the wool can be spun. Longer fibers are particularly suited to the fine, smooth yarns associated with worsted fabrics–the suitings and jacketings most of us work with every day. Shorter fibers can be particularly well suited to the woolen-spun fabrics we love for their character and texture: carded flannels, tweeds and other more textured cloths.

And then there is micron–the Super number.

Important? Absolutely. The whole story? Not even close.

That's why two fabrics carrying the same Super designation can feel, wear and perform quite differently. And perhaps that's the more important lesson for the clothier.

Our end customers don't really need a lesson in fiber science. They want to know how the garment is going to feel, how it's going to wear, how it's going to look at the end of the day–and whether they will feel as good wearing it at 6:00 in the evening as they did when they put it on at 8:00 in the morning.

That's where the educated clothier comes in.

Now, we’d like to hear from you.

We’ve shared our perspective on Super numbers, but we’re interested in yours.

How do you explain Super numbers to your customers? Do you find that customers are impressed by higher numbers, or are they becoming more interested in how a fabric looks, feels, and performs? Or is it not even part of the discussion?

There are many ways to approach selling custom clothing, and we’d welcome hearing yours.

You don’t have to give away your trade secrets!

With your permission, we may share some of your observations in a future edition of Gladson Insights. Click here to send us your thoughts

After all, experience is worth more when it’s shared.

Thank you and kind regards,

Guy

Out in the Street

Stand Up Straight

One of the most critical measurements in custom clothing is posture.

Fortunately, I'm in the custom business and have access to some of the best tailors in the industry.

Unfortunately, my posture keeps shifting – so I need them.

My wife is constantly telling me, "Stand up straight!" As if it were that simple. I checked with my daughter, who's a physical therapist. Turns out my wife is right. I hate when that happens.

So now, when I commute by public transportation, on my walk from the Port Authority to 48th & Fifth Avenue, I remind myself: Stand Up Straight. But I needed something to occupy my mind while doing it.

So I started counting suits.

Today's completely unscientific

Midtown Suit Count:

	Date	From - To	Suits	Jackets	Ties
Monday	P.A. – 48th	8/17/2026	15	4	5
Thursday	P.A. – 48th	9/24/2026	32	12	10

I think it is interesting to show the comparison between a Monday Summer day and mid-week Fall day.

I'll keep counting whenever I make the walk.
Maybe we'll learn something about how New York is dressing.
Maybe I'll improve my posture.
Or maybe I'll just get very good at counting suits.

The Fabric Guy

What does "Super" Really Mean?

Out in the Street

Stand Up Straight

Share your thoughts with Guy Milinazzo