Know your fabrics

MATERIALS & FABRICS

Materials and fabrics can and are used for our clothes. Over the years the fashion industry has established some unwritten rules about which fabric or material is suitable for a specific type of garment.

For consistency, we’re going to use the word FABRIC in this article when we refer to terms like textiles, materials and clothes.

The weaving or knitting of fibres creates fabrics.

Materials refer to the matter from which something can be made.

Fabrics can be created from a single fibre (cotton, silk, linen) or as a blend (Polly cotton).

As a big animal lover, I will not talk about leather and fur products. While there might be some painless or ethical (this is a pushed sense of the world's ethical) ways to source those two materials, it still involves sacrificing animals, a practice I completely disagree with and condemn. Our shop will not be selling any products or accessories made of real leather or fur.

While there are over a hundred types of fabrics used in the manufacture of our clothes we will be mostly focusing on the natural materials used in the fashion industry.

 

Here are some reasons why natural fibres are way better for our clothes.

• Natural fibres are biodegradable
• Natural fibres are manufactured without the need for topical chemicals
• Natural fibres are widely hypoallergenic
• Natural fibres are easily adapting to changes in temperature that’s what makes them suitable for all seasons
• Natural fibres provide greater breathability unlike synthetic fibres
• Natural fibres can be sourced without harming the planet or anyone involved in the manufacture process
• With a little effort natural fibres can be produced in completely sustainable
• Natural fibres are easy to care for, they’ve been used for thousands of years while synthetic fibres have only been around for less than a century

 

While natural fibres are the best, we should also appreciate the usefulness of synthetic fibres.

 

Moving on we’re going to list the most common fabrics, both natural and synthetic.

 

• Acrylic  - Acrylic is made from Acrylonitrile, a colourless flammable liquid that is derived from polypropylene plastic. It is combined with other chemicals and placed into a spinning solution. The mixture is then either injected into an air-filled space and dry spun or sprayed into water and wet spun.

End-uses include socks, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters, home furnishing fabrics, and awnings. Acrylic can also be used to make fake fur and to make many different knitted clothes. As acrylic is a synthetic fibre, the larvae of clothes moths are unable to digest it.

Fiber type: Synthetic fibre

Source: Petroleum product

Characteristics: easy to wash, dries quickly, lightweight, resistant to chemicals, resistant to moths, warm and soft.

 

• Acetate fibre - Acetate is a man-made fibre derived from cellulose. The purified cellulose is obtained from wood pulp, using a chemical reaction with acetic acid and acetic anhydride with sulphuric acid. This fabric has a luxurious feel and appearance, but it's also very delicate and in its pure form it must be hand-washed.

The breathable nature of the fabric suits it for use as a lining. Acetate fabric is used frequently in wedding gowns and other bridal attire. Its lustrous sheen and smooth, satiny texture make it a good alternative to silk

Fibre type: synthetic fibre

Source: Cellulose acetate fibre, one of the earliest synthetic fibres, is based on cotton or tree pulp cellulose. These "cellulosic fibres" have been replaced in many applications by cheaper petrol-based fibres (like nylon and polyester) in recent decades.

Characteristics: soft smooth, dries quickly, linings move with the body linings conform to the garment, poor thermal retention, no allergenic potential.

 

• Aertex fabric is a trade name for a cloth patented in Britain in 1886, which was first manufactured in 1888. The cloth traps air in between its structure, keeping the body cool in summer, and warm in winter. Two threads or ends act as one thread; when a weft thread passes between them, the doup ends twist catching the weft and holding it tightly in place. Very fancy and beautiful clothes can be produced by combining the cross weaving with other weave structures.

• Aida cloth is a cotton fabric with a natural mesh pattern generally used for cross-stitch embroidery. The open, even-weave Aida fabric’s natural stiffness enables the fabric the embroiders choose.

• Antron - Antron is a type of nylon. Nylon carpeting has been around for a long time. However, Antron nylon carpet fibres are different from other carpet fibres. Antron fibres have a denser molecular structure. That means that Antron fibres are less likely to absorb stains. The trademarked name, dating from 1960, of a nylon fibre. The trademark was originally held by Dupont is and now held by INVISTA (used as commercial carpet fibre). Dupont’s Antron nylon III dates to 1970.

• Angora wool is a very fluffy and luxurious fabric that comes from Angora rabbits. Angora is considered a luxury fibre alongside mohair and cashmere, and it is a popular wool for spinners and knitters alike. While this luxurious fibre has come under fire in recent years due to the mistreatment of Angora rabbits, it is entirely possible to produce Angora wool in an ethical, sustainable way that does not involve cruelty to animals.

• Bamboo fibre - Bamboo fabric is a semi-synthetic textile made of natural cellulosic polymers extracted from bamboo. It's a rayon-like textile man-made from regenerated cellulose and used for a wide range of applications, including clothing fabrics in the fashion industry.

Fibre type: Natural fibre

Source: Bamboo

Characteristics: Naturally, bamboo fibre is anti-bacterial so Fewer skin breakouts. Luxurious feel. The anti-static nature of bamboo sheets gives it a luxurious feel on the skin. Soothes skin conditions.

Bamboo fibre has various micro-gaps, which make it softer than cotton and increase its moisture absorption. They are elastic, environment-friendly, and biodegradable. The fibre is a bacteriostatic, anti-fungal, antibacterial, hypoallergenic, hygroscopic, natural deodoriser, and resistant to ultraviolet light.

Care: Bamboo fabrics will maintain their special qualities when washed in cold to warm water (up to 40 degrees Celsius) with a gentle detergent, free of bleach.

• Baby yarn -  Baby wool, is a yarn blend designed especially to suit knitting and crochet projects for babies. Baby wool is made from manmade fibres, rather than sheep’s wool, so it’s more gentle on the skin and less likely to irritate.

Top fibre choices for baby knits and crochet projects include acrylic, cotton, bamboo and superwash wool (particularly merino)

• Bisso also known as Byssus or Sea silk - the sea-silk, obtained from the giant muscle shell of Pinna Nobilis, the greatest bivalve mule from the Mediterranean Sea, a shell that has been risking extinction since the early 1990s.

This shell produces a special keratin-rich substance that helps to keep the shell sealed. That same substance when getting in touch with water becomes solid in the form of a filament.

This special substance can be picked - while keeping the shell alive and preserving it - in very small quantities every year and only in a few months of the year. The fibre that is obtained from it looks like shiny weightless, soft-touch golden silk. It can be only hand-carded and hand-spun and then used for manufacturing precious fabrics or unique embroideries woven with nails between warp and weft.

• Boiled wool - Boiled wool is a knit wool or wool-blend fabric which gets agitated with hot water in a process called fulling. This process shrinks the fabric and results in a thick fabric.

Not to be mistaken to felted wool, which is very similar yet the end product has a different texture. When manufacturing felted wool, there’s weaving involved. The roving is first spun into a thread, which is then woven into wool cloth. This cloth is washed in hot water and dried using high heat. Just like in boiling, the fabric contracts, but it also attains a puffy texture.

In boiled wool, you can still see the fibres woven together, while in felted wool, which is washed and rolled out over and over again, the fibres have meshed together. In terms of texture, felted wool is much more matted, so it’ll feel fluffier. Boiled wool is comparatively thinner.

• Boucle - Derived from the French word meaning “curled” or “ringed,” bouclé can refer to a yarn, made from a series of looped fibres, or the fabric made from it.

While boucle fabric was originally made from traditional wool, many designers incorporate other materials such as silk, rayon, alpaca, linen, cotton, merino, and even wool blends.

Generally, a boucle is known for its nubbly and fleecy appearance.

• Cashmere - cashmere wool is a fibre obtained from cashmere goats, pashmina goats and some other breeds of goat.

The earliest uses of cashmere wool can be traced back to the Kashmir Valley, a land between the Pir Panjal Range and the Great Himalayas in the Indian subcontinent as far back as the 3rd century BC.

Cashmere is a natural fibre known for its extremely soft feel and great insulation. The fibres are very fine and delicate, feeling almost like a silk fabric to the touch. Cashmere is significantly warmer and lighter than sheep’s wool. Often cashmere is made into a wool blend and mixed with other types of wool, like merino, to give it added weight since cashmere fibres are very fine and thin.

• Charmeuse is a luxurious fabric with a shiny front and a dull back. This type of fabric is usually made with silk, but textile manufacturers also make charmeuse with polyester and rayon.

As a silk fabric, the history of charmeuse traces back to Ancient China. Archaeological expeditions have discovered silk garments dating back to 3630 BC.

Named after the French word for a female charmer, charmeuse’s elegance makes this fabric ideal for women’s dresses and evening wear. Over the years, however, charmeuse has become more associated with bedding than it is with apparel.

• Canvas is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and shelters, as a support for oil painting and for other items for which sturdiness is required, as well as in such fashion objects as handbags, electronic device cases, and shoes.

• Chenille is a woven fabric that can be made from a variety of different fibres, including cotton, silk, wool, and rayon. Chenille yarn and fabric are fixtures in fashion and home decor, and the soft, fluffy textile has a unique history and manufacturing process.

Named after the French word for caterpillar, chenille is the name for both the type of yarn and the fabric that makes the soft material. The threads are purposefully piled to create the yarn, which resembles the fuzzy exterior of the caterpillar.

• Chiffon - This type of fabric was originally made from silk, and it was both expensive and in high demand among upper-class women in Europe and the United States when it was originally marked in the mid-19th century. The term "chiffon" is French, and it literally translates as "cloth" or "rag," but this word has come to be synonymous with any type of lustrous, sheer fabric that is woven in a particular style.

This type of fabric is sheer, which means that it is light and semi-transparent with a simple weave.

• Chino cloth is a twill fabric, originally made of 100% cotton. The most common items made from it, trousers, are widely called chinos.

Chino is a durable cotton fabric which uses a steep twill construction and is mercerised for a slight sheen. Chino has a storied past of being used for military uniforms for many years. It is one of the only fabric constructions that can withstand the high-performance standards and rigours of military wear.

• Chintz is a woodblock printed painted, stained or glazed calico textile that originated in Golconda (present-day Hyderabad, India) in the 16th century. The cloth is printed with designs featuring flowers and other patterns in different colours, typically on a light, plain background.

Chintz is a plain cotton fabric that ranges in weight from mild to heavy and is most often used for the production of drapes and decorative cushions.

Chintz was first brought to Europe in the 17th century by Dutch and Portuguese merchants, and its popularity swiftly spread throughout the continent.

• Corduroy - The word corduroy is from cord and duroy, a coarse woollen cloth made in England in the 18th century.

Corduroy is made by weaving extra sets of fibre into the base fabric to form vertical ridges called wales. The wales are built so that clear lines can be seen when they are cut into piles.

The primary types of corduroy are:

- Standard wale, at 11 wales/inch, available in many colours.

- Pin-cord (also called pinwale or needlecord), the finest cord, with a count at the upper end of the spectrum (above 16).

- Pigment dyed/printed corduroy, where the fabric is coloured or printed with pigment dyes. The dye is applied to the surface, then the garment is cut and sewn.

 

• Cotton is a soft, fluffy fibre that grows in a protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants. The fibre is almost pure cellulose and can contain minor percentages of waxes, fats, pectins, and water.

The earliest evidence of the use of cotton dates back to 5500 BC.

There are four commercially grown species of cotton, all domesticated in antiquity:

1. Upland cotton, native to Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and southern Florida (90% of world production)
2. Extra-long staple cotton, native to tropical South America (8% of world production)
3. Tree cotton, native to India and Pakistan (less than 2%)
4. Levant cotton, native to southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (less than 2%)

• Combed cotton is an extremely soft version of cotton made by specially treating the cotton fibres before they are spun into yarn. As a general rule, combed cotton is more expensive than conventional cotton.

• Cotton lisle also referred to as mercerised cotton or Scottish cotton lisle is a type of cotton thread. Cotton lisle offers superior durability and strength, the fibres are twisted an extra twist per inch. A second thread is then twisted at the same rate in the other direction. Finally, the two separate strands are twisted together to create one combined cotton lisle thread. Not only are these threads longer and stronger than usual, but they've also undergone a process called "double mercerisation”.

John Mercer devised the process in 1844 to improve the characteristics of cotton fibres. Mercer experimented with different solutions until he found the best results for improving textile appearance, strength and the absorption of dye. He exposed the cotton thread to caustic soda, a chemical solution made from sodium hydroxide. This mixture removes rough fibres and then rounds the shape of the fibre to increase strength, shine and colour.

Mercerisation is a very expensive way to treat cotton.

Scottish thread can also be dyed and knitted more effectively thanks to its symmetry and soft, silky finish.

• Cotton flax blends fabric. The material composition is 60% Cotton and 40% Flax blend. We can give you the best quality fabric. These cotton flax blend fabrics are designed by our skilled professionals using superior quality fabric in adherence with set industry norms. Flax fibres are also much stronger than cotton, which means that when they're woven into fabric, they can easily last a decade or more.

• Supima cotton is a superior type of cotton grown in the USA. It represents less than 1% of cotton grown in the world.

The name "Supima" is a licensed trademark of a group of cotton growers. It is 100% American Pima cotton. What makes Supima unique from other kinds of cotton is the extra-long staple fibre that gives the cotton its premium properties: strength, softness and colour retention. Supine cotton is also called imported long staple cotton.

• Camel hair specifically refers to the fur from the body of a camel, but more generally refers to the fibre (and cloth) that may be made from either pure camel hair or a blend of camel hair and another fibre.

Camel hair has two components: guard hair and undercoat.

Guard hair is the outer protective fur, which is coarse and inflexible and can be woven into haircloth.

The undercoat, which is shorter and finer than guard hair, is less protective but more insulating. It is very soft and frequently used in the making of textiles for coats.

Each camel can produce approximately five pounds (2.25 kg) of hair a year.

• Cupro is a 'regenerated cellulose' fabric made from cotton waste. It is made using the teeny tiny silky cotton fibres, known as linter, that stick out of the cottonseed and are too small to spin.

Its soft, lightweight, comfortable, and breathable nature makes it an easy fabric choice for fashion manufacturers and consumers. Compared to silk and natural fibres like cotton and linen, cupro can be purchased at a low cost.

• Coolmax is a specially engineered type of polyester exclusively produced by Invista, an American textile corporation. This polyester fabric consists of fibres that are carefully engineered to wick moisture and allow the passage of heat. Coolmax fabric has a variety of potential applications, and it is a popular material for socks, jeans, and other types of apparel. While there are other fabrics with similar attributes to this engineered textile, Coolmax is the sole trademark of Invista.

• Carbon infused. Carbon fibre (also known as carbon fibre) is one of the strongest and most lightweight materials available on the market today. Five times stronger than steel and one-third its weight, carbon fibre composites are often used in aerospace, aviation, robotics, racing, and a wide variety of industrial applications.

• Crepe is a weaving or fabric treatment method that results in a unique rippling, three-dimensional texture. Garments and other textiles made with crepe fabric are generally delicate and used for ceremonial occasions.

Traditionally, crepe fabric was worn by women at times of mourning in many Western cultures, but this practice has largely gone out of fashion. Today, crepe is most commonly used in high fashion and other types of decorative apparel design. Often mixed with other fabric types and weaves, crepe has a unique light, textured profile that makes it highly useful in flowing, airy garments.

• Denim is a strong cotton fabric made using a twill weave, which creates a subtle diagonal ribbing pattern. The cotton twill fabric is warp-facing, meaning that the weft threads go under two or more warp threads, and the warp yarns are more prominent on the right side. The diagonal ribbing is what makes denim fabric different from canvas or cotton duck, which is also a sturdy woven cotton fabric.

There are 6 Different Types of Denim

- Indigo denim: Indigo denim is achieved by dying the warp threads with indigo dye and white threads are used as the weft. As a result, most blue jeans are blue on the right side, as the fabric is warp-facing, and the interior is lighter blue, almost white.

- Stretch denim: Stretch denim weaves spandex or another elastic component to give the fabric some added give and flexibility. Stretch denim is often used for skinny jeans.

- Crushed denim: This type of denim has been treated so that it has a wrinkled look.

- Acid-wash denim: This denim is treated with chlorine and a pumice stone to create a marbled look.

- Raw denim: Raw or dry denim is fabric is that is not washed after it is dyed. This creates a rougher and stiffer texture.

- Sanforised denim: This is denim that is treated so that it doesn’t shrink in the wash. This applies to almost all kinds of denim except for raw denim.

 

• Drill fabric is a warp-faced twill woven fabric. It has a stiff finish. Originally it was produced in white and now it is available in solid colours. It is mainly used for pants, knickers, and uniforms.

• Egyptian cotton is considered to be the most luxurious in the world. Unlike Scottish cotton lisle, its name comes from the place it is cultivated, close to the Nile. Today it is produced in other countries across the world while still respecting its origin and traditions. Top quality cotton. Egyptian cotton’s durability and very silky appearance are achieved thanks to its exceptional fibre lengths. This quality is reinforced by the technique of combing the cotton to lengthen, refine and fortify the threads by 30mm to 35mm. Egyptian cotton is used for the manufacture of luxury shirts and high-end linens.

• Eyelet fabric is characterised by small patterned cut-outs that are typically finished with embroidered stitches throughout the body of the fabric. Eyelet yardage often features a lacey decorative selvedge, making it perfect for creating cute hems, sleeves, and necklines.

• Ecosil textile products are temperature resistant up to 1000°C (short term 1100°C). They are being manufactured without the use of organic binders, are mechanically strong and are chemically resistant against organic agents, water and hot acids (except HF). Ecosil is made out of continuous filament fibres.

• Fleece fabric is a form of synthetic fabric. This means these warm, soft, and cosy garments are man-made. They’re usually made from polyester. Sometimes, it’s referred to as polar fleece or polyester fleece.

Other kinds of fleece fabric include stretch fleece, French terry fleece, printed fleece, performance fleece, plaid fleece, and sweatshirt fleece. A lot of fabric store outlets carry these types of fabric fleece nowadays.

Fleece is a great alternative to wool. It can be warmer than wool during the cold weather, but it’s not itchy, and it’s also lighter!

There are four different types of fleece fabric:

• Microfleece

What makes microfleece so special?

Super soft and comfortable

Flexibility isn’t compromised

This fabric is flexible, so it doesn’t restrict movement, and you can stretch it as much as you want.

Added warmth and comfort

Fleece fabric is lightweight, so it’s easy to layer and travel with.

Microfleece is a breathable fabric, so natural odours don’t build up over time.

fleece is a very durable type of fabric, so it isn’t prone to pilling. Even the thick fleece sweaters with a coarse texture don’t shed or pill.

If you don’t want to have pit stains anymore but still want to wear sweaters, opt for fleece fabric. They are moisture- and water-resistant, so it will help seal in moisture on the skin.

Their resistance to water and moisture doesn’t just make them the perfect outerwear for sweaty people. Since this fabric repels moisture, it also dries quickly, so you can use it more often.

Fleece fabric is a vegan, cruelty-free type of clothing. They’re made of 100% synthetic material, so there was no harm done to animals in the production of these garments.

- Mid-weight fleece

- Heavy-weight fleece

- Textured fleece

 

• French terry is a versatile knit fabric with soft loops on the inside and a smooth surface on the outside. This knit has a soft, warm texture you’ll recognise from your comfiest sweatshirts to joggers as well as loungewear. French terry can be medium to heavy weight—lighter than cold-weather sweatpants but heavier than your typical t-shirt.

• French terry differs from the terry cloth that you recognise from your towels and robes. French terry is a smoother, softer fabric, though both French terry and terry cloth feature a similar soft pile. Terry cloth is also more absorbent than French terry, making it the perfect fabric to use when towelling dry.

• Faille was a type of cloth with flat ribs that was in use in the 19th century. It had a softer texture than grosgrain, with heavier and wider cords or ribs. Weft yarns were heavier than warp and manufactured in plain weaving.

Silk faille fabric, or silk grosgrain, has a subtle sheen and a ribbed pattern. Silk faille fabric is used similarly to silk taffeta and shantung, for structured pieces or full gathered looks. Popular for formalwear dresses, skirts, suits, jackets and ties.

• Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that has a napped, fuzzy, finish on one or both sides. This napped finish either comes from brushing or from its characteristic loose weave. Its soft, cosy feel makes it the perfect fabric to keep you warm and comfortable all winter long. It’s often woven with patterns, especially plaid and tartan, and is a favourite fabric for sheets during the winter. Flannel has been made since the 17th century and likely originated in Wales. Though it was once made of wool, by the 20th century, flannel was more commonly made with cotton, sometimes mixed with silk. Nowadays, the softest, cosiest flannel is 100% cotton.

• Fiberfill stuffing is the fibre that has been combed and fluffed to form a soft ball, kind of like a ball of cotton. It is usually made from polyester and other recycled materials. Fiberfill stuffing is inexpensive to make, and its insulating and filler properties make it ideal for different projects and purposes.

Fiberfill stuffing is resistant to microorganisms, moths, mildew, carpet beetles and other pests, making it ideal for use in stuffing pillows and other items.

• Flax fabric. Unlike cotton, flax plants are naturally resistant to pests and require no fertilisation or irrigation when grown in their ideal zones. Flax fibres are also much stronger than cotton, which means that when they're woven into fabric, they can easily last a decade or more.

Flax is naturally hypoallergenic and is considered to be a natural fibre that is friendly to a person's skin. Because linen is hypoallergenic, it is perfect for allergy sufferers. For those who live in hot climates, linen is a great choice to keep you cool in the summer.

• Gabardine fabric is a type of textile with a twill weave and is used heavily in tailoring. It can be woven with natural fibres such as cotton and wool or as a blend. It is viewed as a durable fabric. Historically, gabardine has been used as a fabric for garments since the 15th century. With lanolin applied to make it waterproof, it was a great fabric for those clothing types where protection from the elements was needed.

• Part of the crêpe fashion fabric family, Georgette fabric is a woven silk textile that is translucent with a slightly puckered surface and a beautiful drape. The silk crêpe fabric was first introduced in France at the beginning of the twentieth century. Since then, it has become a fixture of high fashion, particularly in evening and bridal wear. Georgette is a type of crêpe fabric that is typically made from pure silk but can also be made from synthetic fibres like rayon, viscose, and polyester. French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante introduced the eponymous silk fabric in the early twentieth century.

The silk fabric is sheer and lightweight and has a dull, matte finish.

Crêpe Georgette is woven using tightly twisted yarns, which create a slight crinkle effect on the surface.

Silk Georgette is very similar to silk chiffon, which is also a type of crêpe fabric, but Georgette is not as sheer as chiffon because of the tighter weave.

Georgette fabrics are sometimes sold in solid colours but georgette can be printed and often boasts colourful.

• Gingham fabric is almost synonymous with picnic tablecloths and was imprinted in the collective pop-culture memory via Dorothy’s blue gingham dress in The Wizard of Oz.

Gingham, also called Vichy check, is a medium-weight balanced plain-woven fabric typically with striped, check or plaid duotone patterns, in bright colours.

• Hemp fabric is a sustainable textile made of fibres of a very high-yielding crop in the cannabis sativa plant family. Historically used for industrial purposes, like rope and sails, hemp is known as one of the most versatile and durable natural fibres.

• Hydrophilic fabrics have an affinity to water and an attraction or love for water. You apply hydrophilic finish in the same manner, but these finishes transfer water in a process called “wicking” or “moisture management.” Those that naturally repel water, causing droplets to form, are known as hydrophobic fibres.

• Italian nylon fabric is a very high-quality knit fabric with a 4-way stretch that comes from Italy. Italian nylon includes some Lycra to give great stretch recovery and abrasion resistance.

• Interlock fabric is also known as double-knit fabric. This is another type of weft-knitted fabric. But it differs from single jersey fabric in that it's manufactured using two rows of needles. You can picture it like two layers of single jersey fabric, knitted together back to back. You can tell this fabric apart from regular stretch knit fabrics by the rows, or ribs, of a ‘V’ shape down the face and back of the fabric, making the front and back look the same. These types of fabrics are both easy to work with and comfortable to wear. It is extremely soft, firm, and absorbent making it ideal for activewear. Not only do interlocks have a great amount of stretch, but the fabric has a good recovery. This means that interlock knit fabric will return to its original shape after it has been stretched out.

• Interwoven linen fabric. The fabric is fine, firm and durable, and the surface is clean. It feels softer and more comfortable than pure linen fabric.

• Jersey is a knit fabric that is commonly used in clothing. In the past, most jersey fabric was made with wool, but it’s now more common to find cotton and synthetic jersey garments. Characterised by its considerable stretchiness and close-knit, jersey is a popular fabric for underwear, t-shirts, and other types of garments that you wear close to your skin. Since it is lightweight, the jersey is not remarkably durable but it is ideal as a base layer worn beneath thicker and more durable clothing.

Jersey fabric originated in the Channel Islands, where it was primarily used to make underwear and fishermen’s sweaters. Records indicate that jersey knits existed as early as the Middle Ages, and this knit gradually gained popularity throughout Western Europe during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods.

• Jacquard is a fabric that has a design or motif woven into the construction of the weave. Jacquards come in an array of designs, from dramatic ornamental damasks to florals, stripes, chevrons, or geometric patterns.

Jacquard fabric is a type of fabric woven on a Jacquard loom, a machine loom invented by the French textile artisan Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804.

The Jacquard loom has evolved dramatically over the years. Textile manufacturers no longer operate these weaving machines with a series of punched cards, and instead, Jacquard looms are operated by computer programs. Called computerised Jacquard looms, these advanced textile machines reduce the need for human input, making the process of weaving jacquard fabrics even more efficient and cost-effective.

The second-most popular application of jacquard in homewares is drapes or curtains followed closely by duvet covers. While considerably cheaper to produce since the advent of computerised Jacquard looms, the Jacquard fabric retains its association with upper-class luxury to this day.

• Kashmir silk is a silk fabric produced in plain weave and is either embroidered or printed. The motifs used are characteristic of Kashmir. It is used for shirts, women’s wear and sarees. Kashmir shawls are woven in twill weave and are usually embroidered with traditional Kashmiri embroidery.

• Khadi is a term used for a wide variety of fabrics that are hand-spun and hand-woven. They are produced in mainly one cotton fibre, blends of two or more fibres. They are known for durability and simplicity. The fabrics can be suitings dhotis overalls and household textiles.

• Khaki is a yellow-brown cloth used initially for military uniforms. A lovely weight fabric with the appearance of linen but made from 100% cotton. The word “khaki” comes from the Persian word for “dust,” which aptly describes its original colour. Khaki has been used by many armies around the world for uniforms and equipment, particularly in arid or desert regions, where it provides camouflage relative to sandy or dusty terrain. It has been used as a colour name in English since 1848 when it was first introduced as a military uniform. In Western fashion, it is a standard colour for smart casual dress trousers for civilians, which are also often called khakis.

• Knit fabric is an elastic material, made by yarns initially formed into loops and then interconnected in order to produce a textile structure. Knit fabrics do not have a weave. However, the system of weft and warp threads, traditional for other fabric types, is preserved.

• Double knitting is a kind of pattern that uses two different sets of needles to create a fabric that is twice as thick as ordinary knitting fabric. These two layers of knitting are brought together by using stitches that interlock with one another.

• Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is divided into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted or crocheted lace.

• Lawn fabric is a fine sheet, lightweight, crisp fabric either made of cotton or linen. Various finishes are given to this fabric, which the fabric is called by the name of the finish. It is mainly used as lining in a dress.

• Lamé is a type of fabric woven or knit with thin ribbons of metallic fibre wrapped around natural or synthetic fibres like silk, nylon, or spandex.

Usually, it is made from silk, viscose, cotton, and wool, and synthetic fibres like polyester, polyamide, and nylon. Over many years, people who make fabrics have used many different methods to make a huge variety of lamé fabrics.

• Latex is a very durable, stretchable material with great elasticity. It is also a good barrier and waterproof material. These characteristics make latex a great product for all sorts of products including medical gloves, clothing, toys, household products, and much more.

Originally used in protective clothing like gas masks and Wellington boots, latex fabric is now seen on runways across the world. Skin-tight and shiny, this funky fabric is used by counterculture communities and couturiers alike. Latex clothing can be created in a couple of ways, including utilising sheets of latex or dipping a mould in liquid latex to create a cast. In addition, when sewing with sheets of latex, you can use a needle and thread, or a specific latex glue.

• Leno is a fabric in which an open effect is created by causing certain thread ends or doup threads to cross over. Two threads or ends act as one thread; when a weft thread passes between them, the doup ends twist catching the weft and holding it tightly in place. Very fancy and beautiful clothes can be produced by combining the cross weaving, with other weave structures.

• Linen is a flax-based textile that is predominantly used for homeware applications. While linen is similar to cotton, it is made from fibres derived from the stems of the flax plant instead of the bolls that grow around cotton seeds.

Linen is one of the longest-produced textiles, and its history may stretch back even farther than the most ancient evidence that modern archaeology has uncovered. It appears that Neolithic peoples in Europe were making textiles from linen as long as 36,000 years ago.

Flax plants are ready for harvesting in about 100 days. They must be planted in the cooler part of the year to avoid crop death. Flax seeds are usually sown with machines. Herbicides and tilling are generally used to prevent reduced yields in the flax crops. Once flax stems are yellow and their seeds are brown, the plants are ready to harvest, whether by hand or by machines.

After flax are harvested, they are processed through a machine that removes leaves and seeds.

Next, the decomposed stalks are broken up separating the unusable outer fibre of flax stalks from their usable inner fibre. Those inner fibres can be combed into thin stands and ready for spinning.

To spin flax fibres, these short, combed fibres are connected with devices called spreaders, and the resulting strings, called rovings, are then ready to be spun.

After being spun in a spinning frame, the resulting yarn is revealed into a bobbin.

Finally, flax manufacturers dry the finished yarn and reel it into bobbins. The yarn is then ready to be dyed, treated and made into apparel, homewards, or other types of textile products.

• Damask linen

Damask linen is the most delicate compared to other linen types. It is woven using both plain and satin linen weaves. Its flat and reversible fibres give the fabric a smooth texture and a reversible pattern.

This type of linen is ornate and delicate, and it is formed on a jacquard loom to produce a result that’s similar to embroidery. Damask linen isn’t designed for everyday use, and it’s more common in decorative items.

Usually, a Damask is available in one colour and is used for linen clothes including napkins, tablecloths, and other home textiles. Damask is characterised by a very fine texture and large floral patterns.

Damask fabric is named for Damascus, which is where this textile product originated. Known for its intricate and reversible patterns, damask fabric is prized for its ornateness. These days, however, it’s easy to make incredibly complex damask patterns with modern textile machines. Traditionally, damask fabric was made from silk, cotton, or wool, but synthetic damask weaves are now available.

• Plain-woven linen

Plain-woven linen is commonly used to make dish towels, cotton towels, and hand towels. Since it is relatively loosely woven, it is highly durable, but it doesn’t suffer from a significant decrease in durability.

• Loosely-woven linen

Loosely woven linen is highly absorbent, but it is the least durable type of linen fabric. It is commonly used to make reusable diapers and sanitary napkins.

• Sheeting linen

Linen apparel is usually made from sheeting linen due to its untextured, soft surface and close weave. This type of linen usually has a higher thread count than other forms of linen fabric.

• The lining is an inner layer of fabric, like silk or fur, that provides a polished finish concealing any seam allowances, interfacing or construction details Linings can also add a layer of insulation or reinforce shapes and silhouettes, particularly in tailoring.

Some of the most popular lining fabrics are silk, viscose, acetate, polyester and rayon. The key to choosing the best lining fabrics for your clothing is to have information about the type of fibre used to make the fabric.

• LYCRA fibre is the trademarked brand name of a class of synthetic elastic fibres known as spandex in the U.S., and elastane in the rest of the world. Spandex and elastane are interchangeable terms that mean the same thing, but only The LYCRA Company, produces authentic LYCRA brand spandex fibres.

Despite having different names, Lycra, spandex, and elastane are all the same material, and these fabrics can stretch to 5-8 times their usual size.

This fabric was originally developed by the DuPont Corporation in the 1950s, but it would not exist if polyurethane had not been invented by IG Farben in the 1930s in Nazi Germany.

Unlike many other types of synthetic fabrics, Lycra is highly resistant to heat, and it was quickly recognised as an excellent addition to heat-sensitive synthetics like polyester and nylon.

• Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fabric that is commonly used as a substitute for cotton or silk. This fabric is a form of rayon, and it is composed primarily of cellulose derived from wood.

Originally developed by American Enka in 1972, lyocell burst into popularity in the latter decades of the 20th century, and it is still relatively popular around the world. Since it is primarily made from organic ingredients, this fabric is seen as a more sustainable alternative to fully synthetic fibres like polyester, but whether or not lyocell fabric is truly better for the environment is questionable.

At American Enka, lyocell fabric only made it through the pilot phase of development before the project was abandoned. It wasn't until the 1980s that a British company called Courtaulds Fibres picked up the pieces and created a new fabric called Tencel based on lyocell research. These two fabrics are chemically identical, and the terms Tencel and Lyocell can be used interchangeably.

• Mohair - The origin of the mohair fibre begins in the mountain regions of Turkey, where the Angora goat roams. Thought to be a descendant of the cashmere goat, the Angora goat fibres differ in several ways due to its natural habitat, creating a much sought-after fleece that creates unique properties when woven into suiting material.

Mohair is also nicknamed ‘diamond fibre’ because of its unique lustre. The goats are shorn twice each year for their long, silky and lightly curled hairs, with the best quality sourced from Texas, South Africa and Turkey. The coat of the Angora goat has temperature-regulating properties, making mohair fabric great for keeping warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

When the mohair fibre is spun in the worsted variety, it gives the fabric a springy and crisp hand that has amazing ‘bounce-back’.

Similar to other luxury fibres, mohair fibres are limited in availability. For one, an Angora goat cannot be sheared after 8 years old, as the hairs are too coarse to use. Even more rare is the “kid mohair” fibre, which comes from the first shearing of an Angora goat. This fleece is softer and therefore more expensive as well. 

• Merino Wool. Merino wool is a type of wool gathered from the coats of Merino sheep. T While traditional wool is notorious for being itchy, merino wool is one of the softest forms of wool and doesn’t aggravate the skin. This is because of the small diameter of the fine merino fibres, which makes it more flexible and pliable and therefore less itchy. Merino wool is considered a luxurious fibre and is used frequently for socks and outdoor clothing. Merino wool is known for being odour-resistant, moisture-wicking, and breathable.

• Modal. Modal fabric is a semi-synthetic fabric made from beech tree pulp that is used primarily for clothing, such as underwear and pyjamas, and household items, like bed sheets and towels. Modal is a form of rayon, another plant-based textile, though it is slightly more durable and flexible than rayon. Modal is often blended with other fibres like cotton and spandex for added strength. Modal is considered a luxurious textile thanks to both its soft feel and high cost, as it is more expensive than either cotton or viscose.

• Micro modal is a finer knit than standard modal which makes the end product even more luxurious. The fabric is incredibly easy to wash and care for - its long, strong fibres mean that it is far less prone to shrinking, wrinkling and pilling.

• Muslin is a loosely woven cotton fabric. The name is derived from the city of Mosul where the fabric was first made. It’s made using the plain weave technique, which means that a single weft yarn alternates over and under a single warp yarn. Muslin is known as the material used in fashion prototypes to test patterns before cutting and stitching the final product. Muslin is ideal for testing patterns, as its lightweight and gauzy, therefore it can mimic drape and fit well and is simple to sew with.

• Mousseline fabric is a term used to denote very fine clear fabrics, finer than muslins. Made of silk, wool or cotton, the weave structure is either (plain) tabby or two-and-one twill. In the 18th century, the British term referred to a fine cloth with a cotton warp and a worsted weft. In France, from the late 18th century onwards mousseline delaines were made of very fine wool which was printed in beautiful designs. This fabric
  proved very popular for fashionable dress and shawl fabrics. The mousseline cloth is so fine and transparent that it is often found backed with another cloth of either satin or taffeta silk.

• Mulmul is an Indian term generally applied to fine cotton fabric slightly heavier, than muslin. These are often printed fabrics. They find use as sarees.

• Mulberry silk has been with us since the beginning of times, well 2640 BC to be specific when a silkworm cocoon fell into the Chinese Empress's cup of tea. The teenage wife of Emperor Huangdi, empress Xi Lingshi was sitting in her garden underneath a Mulberry tree drinking tea. As she watched it dissolve, she saw that the cocoon was made out of one long, translucent thread. The rest is history, and what an impressive story this little bug has!

• Mesh. In almost every case, mesh is made from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon.

The idea of mesh has been around for thousands of years; for instance, every type of net in existence is made from mesh, and this material has also been used to make items like hammocks.

Mesh fabrics are used to create products for activities such as sports, camping, hunting and fishing, and more.

However, it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that textile innovators started using mesh for apparel.

• Microfibre is a synthetic fibre that consists of polyester and polyamide. The fibres have been split into very fine strands that are porous and dry quickly. Microfibre is a material that is durable, soft, and absorbent, making it perfect for a variety of uses. Because of the way it is made, microfibre is excellent for cleaning, apparel, furniture, and even sports gear.

If you look closely at a microfibre cloth, you’ll notice the strands look like an asterisk because the fibre strands are split, causing them to flare out. In a square inch of fabric, there can be as many as 300,000 strands of fibres. Each strand acts like a hook that scrapes up moisture, grime, and even bacteria.

• Memory foam. The main component of memory foam is a polymer (a substance with large molecules, consisting of many small, similar subunits bonded together) called polyurethane. Polyurethane is an incredibly common and versatile plastic polymer that can be used to produce a wide range of materials and products, including furniture like sofas and mattresses,

Ultimately, these chemicals affect two of the main qualities of memory foam: viscosity and elasticity. In the context of memory foam, when we say that the material is “viscous”, we mean that it takes a long time to change shape under pressure or to transfer energy from one place to another.

• Neoprene. Polychloroprene, known by its brand name Neoprene, is a fabric that can be used as a substitute for rubber. Neoprene is a suitable material for wetsuits and other clothing which are meant to insulate against damp and cold conditions as it is completely waterproof.

• Nylon is a type of plastic derived from crude oil. This plastic is then put through an intensive chemical process, resulting in the strong, stretchy fibres that make it so useful as a fabric.

Nylon is also the name of a family of synthetic polymers that are commonly used to make a variety of different types of apparel and consumer goods. Unlike other organic or semi-synthetic fibres, nylon fibres are entirely synthetic, which means that they have no basis in organic material.

• Organza. Organza is a lightweight, sheer, plain-woven fabric that was originally made from silk. The material can also be made from synthetic fibres, primarily polyester and nylon. Synthetic fabrics are slightly more durable, but the fabric is very delicate and prone to frays and tears. Organza is also characterised by very small holes throughout the fabric which are the spaces between the warp and weft thread in the plain-weave pattern.   

The quality of organza is defined as the number of holes per inch—more holes indicate better quality organza. Organza is extremely popular for wedding gowns and evening wear, as it is the shimmery and translucent quality which creates decadent silhouettes.

• Oxford cloth fabric is a lightweight and waterproof material, which is also very durable and resistant to damage and dirt. Oxford polyester fabrics with a special PU coating and waterproof finishing are ideally suited for all kinds of garden swings, tents, covers, baby prams, as well as roofs.

• Olefin is a soft, lightweight woven fabric designed for outdoor use. Its refined appearance makes it an attractive fabric for use in indoor and outdoor projects. This beautiful and eco-friendly material can be found in Phifer's GeoBella line of designer fabrics. Olefin is another name for polypropylene fibre. Polypropylene is the chemical name given to the compound we know as the textile, olefin.

• Palis is wool blended polyester, with a smooth surface, light and thin texture, crisp handle, crisp, not easy to wrinkle, easy to wash and dry, and good wearing performance.

• Plissé originally referred to fabric that had been woven or gathered into pleats and has also been known as crinkle crêpe. It takes its name from the French word for fold. Today, it is a lightweight fabric with a crinkled, puckered surface, formed in ridges or stripes.

• Panne is a type of crushed velvet produced by forcing the pile in a single direction by applying heavy pressure. Sometimes, less frequently, called paon velvet.

• Poplin is a medium weight, the cotton fabric having a fine weft rib. it is generally used for shirting, dresses, and upholstery.

• French for “skin of silk,” peau de soie is a medium-weight, dully lustrous fabric. Although at first glance it appears to be satin, it is woven in a compact plain weave. Originally always silk, it can be made of manufactured fibres. The best quality peau de soie will be reversible, and most have a fine cross-ribbed reverse.

• Pique cotton is a material characterised by raised parallel cords or fine ribbing in the fabric. This gives the material a subtle pattern and texture, which can only be seen up close. Textures and patterns vary across pique shirting too.

• Pima is an extra-long staple cotton that grows on the northern coast of Peru. Renowned for its superior fibre length, strength, and consistency, Peruvian Pima cotton makes the softest, finest t-shirts you will ever experience.

• Polyamide is a synthetic material, patented in the 1930s by the famous American company Du Pont. It is also known as Nylon. Produced in the form of long, thin filaments, polyamide has an elastic structure and was first used with great success to produce ladies' stockings.

• Polypropylene fabric is a term used to describe any textile product that is derived from the thermoplastic polymer polypropylene. This type of plastic is part of the polyolefin group, and it is non-polar and partially crystalline. Next to polyethene, polypropylene is the second-most commonly produced plastic in the world, and it is more commonly used in packaging, straws, and other types of consumer and industrial goods than it is in textile production.

• Power Net is a super stretchy mesh fabric suitable for use with lightweight jersey fabrics. Also used to line swim and active wear, it can also be used for sleeves and sheer panels in fitted garments and underwear. This is a lightweight mesh fabric that will stretch with your jersey.

• Polyester is a synthetic fabric that’s usually derived from petroleum. This fabric is one of the world’s most popular textiles, and it is used in thousands of different consumer and industrial applications.

Most synthetic and some plant-based polyester fibres are made from ethylene, which is a constituent of petroleum that can also be derived from other sources. While some forms of polyester are biodegradable, most of them are not, and polyester production and use contribute to pollution around the world.

Polyester fibre was originally developed for mass consumption by the DuPont Corporation, which also developed other popular synthetic fibres like nylon.

Polyester can be blended with cotton, silk, viscose and a lot of other fibres.

1. Polyester cotton blend aka polycotton or poly-cotton — is a blend of cotton and man-made polyester. Polyester Cotton Fabric are very popular because it is used to make many different types of clothing due to it being stronger, more customisable, and more versatile (dries faster) than 100% cotton.
2. Poly silk is a blend of polyester and silk. Although, in many cases, is made 100% of polyester fibre to imitate the silk, rather than real silk. It is often used in formal gowns such as wedding dresses or for ladies’ wear, for example for lingerie, embroidery, or prints.
3. Polyviscose is a blend of viscose and polyester. Blending polyester with viscose gives the best of both worlds, very affordably. Poly viscose is best described as a semi-natural or semi-synthetic fibre. Poly-viscose largely retains the pleasant drape and feel of standard viscose, so its touch is quite natural to handle. But the added polyester means poly viscose is much easier to care for, as it's machine washable and can be tumble-dried.

• Plush fabric is a fabric that imitates a fur surface with a pile height from 4 to 18mm. Soft and pleasant to the touch, plush has been popular for a long time. In the 19th century, beautiful and durable tablecloths, curtains, children's toys.

• Ramie has a cellulose fibre, obtained through a complex extraction process, which makes it an expensive and premium fabric. Its fibres are obtained from Boehmeria Nivea and utilis plants: white ramie is obtained from the first, while green ramie from the second.

• Rayon is a semi-synthetic cellulosic fibre used widely in everything from clothing construction to bedsheets to tire cords. While rayon is made from natural materials (like beech trees or bamboo), it undergoes intense chemical processing, making it a manufactured fibre. While most fabrics fall into two categories - natural fabrics (like linen, wool, and silk) and synthetic fabrics (like neoprene and spandex/lycra) - there are a few textiles that fall somewhere in between. One of the most widely known semi-synthetic fibres is rayon.

• Rib knit is a knitted fabric with alternating high and low knit columns. More elastic and durable than jersey knits, they tend to fit the body.

In other words, rib knits are reversible double-faced fabrics. Typically, a rib knit is used to create bands on t-shirt neckbands, turtlenecks, hems, cuffs, etc.

• Satin is a woven type of fabric with the characteristic of being highly lustrous on one side and matte on the other. Can be made in a variety of fibres.

• Sea tiger velvet. The fluff is flat and erect, the wool is dense and firm, the warmth retention is good, the suede lustre is bright and soft, the handle is plump and thick, warm and light, and has good wear resistance.

• Silicone-coated fabric is a material that is coated on both sides with specially formulated silicone rubber.

Silicone is a rubber-like polymer, which maintains its elasticity over a wide range of temperatures. Often used inside the top of lingerie to make it cling to the skin. Silicone is an excellent choice for heat-resistance applications because it is highly resistant to ageing, weathering, and UV light. It is also water-resistant and smoke and flame-retardant.

• Soy fabric is derived from the soybean. The soybean contains natural fibres within each bean. When these fibres are stripped from the bean they are too coarse to be spun and so they have to be processed. With the softness of silk, soy fabric or “vegetable cashmere” is one of the world’s most eco-friendly fabrics. Produced using soy protein derived from the hulls of soybeans, this intriguing textile takes a waste product and transforms it into a usable textile with minimal use of toxic chemicals and limited processing.

Soy fabric has an excellent drape, and it is highly elastic. While this textile dyes well, colours sometimes bleed during the first few washings. Though reasonably prone to pilling, soy fabric does not wrinkle, and it doesn’t shrink.

• Spandex is a synthetic fibre made from polyurethane. It is lightweight, highly elastic, strong, durable, and non-absorbent to water and oils. In Europe, it’s called Elastane.

• Spanette fabric is a type of woven fabric, typically made from rubber or nylon, which uses dense air holes to provide comfort, breathability, and 360-degree stretch.

• Supplex nylon is a cottony soft nylon that offers the performance benefits of a man-made fabric with the look of cotton.

• Tactel is a silkier, softer nylon with a crinkle finish. It is lightweight and quick drying.

• Tencel is the trademark name for Lyocell.

• Themastat is a synthetic fibre with a hollow core to keep you warmer and drier by wicking moisture away.

• Tricot. The word comes from the French word "tricoter" which means to knit. Tricot is a finely knit fabric that stretches in both the lengthwise and crosswise directions. It can be made from nylon, wool, rayon, silk, cotton, or other fibres.

• Twill is one of the basic weaves, along with plain and satin. It is characterised by a diagonal rib, and there are several variations possible, including right-hand twill, left-hand twill and broken twill.

• Taffeta is a smooth, crisp, transparent fabric having a fine rib. Originally it is made with silk fibres but now it is also made of rayon. It has a characteristic finish which produces crispness. It is used as women’s evening wear.

• The word "toile" comes from the French word for linen cloth. It is a type of printed fabric with a unique look and lines that are similar to those from the Art Nouveau period. Toile is mostly a style of design that looks like prints with rural, floral, or romantic themes.

• Tulle is a very light fabric created from silk threads, cotton threads or threads of synthetic materials such as nylon. It is an elastic material that allows embroidery for high-quality applications and different uses in fashion, furniture and decorations.

• Tweed is a type of wool weave that is designed for weather resistance. Since they’re made from natural wool, each tweed product looks slightly different, which has always added to the allure. By choosing certain sheep breeds instead of others, you can somewhat control the pattern that will emerge in your tweed garment.

Originally invented by the Scottish, tweed is now an international fashion staple, and the majority of tweed wool is harvested in Australia.

• Velour is a soft plush fabric with a close, dense pile. It can be made from cotton or synthetic fibre.

• Velvet is a woven fabric made of silk, nylon, acetate, or rayon with a thick, soft pile of cut or uncut loops. A soft, luxurious fabric that is characterised by a dense pile of evenly cut fibres that have a smooth nap.

Velvet has a beautiful drape and a unique soft and shiny appearance due to the characteristics of the short pile fibres.

Velvet is popular for evening wear and dresses for special occasions, as the fabric was initially made from silk. Cotton, linen, wool, mohair, and synthetic fibres can also be used to make velvet, making velvet less expensive and incorporated into daily-wear clothes. Velvet is also a fixture of home decor, where it’s used as upholstery fabric, curtains, pillows, and more.

• A similar fabric, velveteen, is made the same way but from cotton.

• Viscose is the European term for rayon.

• Vinyl is a shiny, plastic-coated fabric typically made with a woven backing of polyester fibres that are then coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a blend of PVC and polyurethane. 

• Vinylon, also known as Vinalon (more common in Korean sources), is a synthetic fibre produced from the reaction between polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibre and formaldehyde. Chemically it is polyvinyl formal (PVF). Vinylon was first developed in Japan in 1939.

Vinylon fibre is widely used for industrial, agricultural, and fishing uses because it is light in weight, durable and resistant to weathering. Although vinylon fibres are produced mainly in staple fibre, it is also produced in filament yarn. The fabric hand of some filament yarn is similar to that of silk yarn.

• Wool is a natural fibre that comes from the fleece of an animal. Wool fabric types can be categorised by the type of animal that produces the fibre, by the processing method that’s used to form the fabric, or by the design.

Hair fibres from a variety of animals can be made into wool fabric. Sheep is the most common but also goats, alpacas, vicuñas, and camels, as well as different breeds and ages of sheep.

Like other fibres, wool can either be woven or knit to create fabric. Woven wool fabric is further categorised into woollen and worsted types, which refer to the quality and type of yarn that’s used to weave the fabric.

Wool can also be felted to produce wool felt, melton, or boiled wool.

 

Types of wool fabric by animal:

Sheep

Cashmere

Merino

Mohair

Alpaca

Camel

Virgin wool/lambswool

Vicuña

 

Types of wool fabric by processing method:

Wool tweed

Wool gauze

Wool voile

Wool challis

Wool crepe

Wool delaine

Wool suiting

Wool gabardine

Wool flannel

Wool serge

Wool voltaire

Wool barathea

Wool sharkskin

Venetian wool

Wool coatings

Wool melton

Boiled wool

Wool felt

Bouclé wool

Double cloth wool

Broadcloth

Wool jersey

Wool batting / wadding

Washable wool

 

Types of wool fabric by design:

Herringbone

Basketweave

Houndstooth

Dogstooth

Puppytooth

Tattersall check

Prince of Wales check

Tartan

 

• Woven fabrics are made from two pieces of yarn that are stretched out over a loom and woven together in both horizontal and vertical directions. Woven fabrics do not stretch because their fibres run at 45-degree angles to one another. Woven fabrics include linen denim, twill, satin, chiffon, corduroy, tweed, and canvas.

• X-Static or Ionic+ silver fibre has a layer of pure silver permanently bonded to the surface of a textile fibre. It can be used in knits, wovens, and non-wovens as either a filament or spun yarn. The addition of silver creates an anti-odour, anti-bacterial fibre.

 

 

 

Sources

 

• Falick, M. (2015). The Mood Guide to Fabric and Fashion: The Essential Guide From the World’s Most Famous Fabric Store. STC Craft.
• Hallett, C. & Johnston, A. (2014). Fabric for Fashion: The Complete Guide. Laurence King Publishing.
• Hallett, C. & Johnston, A. (2014). Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book. Laurence King Publishing.
• Shaeffer, C. (2011). Claire Shaeffer’s Fabric Sewing Guide. Fairchild Books & Visuals.
• Smith, A. (2009). The sewing book. DK Publishing.