TYPES OF FABRICS:
ACETATE:
Acetate is a modified cellulosic fiber made of cellulose acetate.
The fabric is lustrous and drapes well.
It is used for dresses, lingerie and sportswear.
ACRYLIC:
Acrylic is a manufactured fiber made of Acrylonitrile units.
The fabric is lightweight whether it is woven or knitted.
It is used as a substitute for wool.
It is used for outerwear and sportswear.
ALPACA:
Alpaca fiber is obtained from Alpaca.
The fabric is soft, smooth and silky with a loose weave.
It is used for making coats and suits.
ANGORA:
Angora fiber obtained from Angora Rabbit.
The fabric is fine & lightweight hair fiber.
BATISTE:
Batiste is a plain weave fabric in cotton, linen, wool or cotton mix
It is used for Dresses, Blouses, Lingerie and Interlinings.
BEDFORD CORD:
Bedford Cord is a heavyweight cotton fabric with prominent lengthwise raised cords on the face.
It is used for making trousers, coats, upholstery and other things.
BOUCLE:
Boucle is a loosely woven or knitted fabric that has looped or curled yarns giving it a bulky appearance. It is made of polyester, viscose, wool blends and other fabrics and is used for making suits and dresses.
BROADCLOTH:
Broadcloth is a lightweight, plain-weave, tightly woven, thin yarn fabric with slight crosswise ribs. It is constructed as a cotton blend or wool blend fabric.
BROCADE:
Brocade is a heavy and luxurious fabric that has raised jacquard designs.
It is used as decorative apparel and upholstery fabric.
BUCKRAM:
Buckram is a lightweight stiff cotton fabric.
It is woven in plain weave with an open construction.
It is used for apparel interfacing and interlining, book binding and other things.
BURLAP:
Burlap is a heavy weight fabric made of jute fibers.
It has an open construction in plain weave of coarse yarns.
It is used for sacks, upholstery and the rest.
CALICO:
Calico is a lightweight cotton fabric constructed in plain weave.
It usually has small and bright print design on a contrasting background.
It is used for making blouses and dresses.
CAMBRIC:
Cambric is a closely woven plain weave cotton fabric that is finished with a slight gloss on one side. It is a medium weight fabric. It is used for making children’s and baby clothes. It is thicker than Rubia and is a popular fabric for making block printed dress materials.
CANVAS:
Canvas is a heavyweight plain weave cotton fabric.
It is very durable and is used for making tents, awnings, industrial products and many other things.
CASEMENT:
Casement is thicker that cambric.
It is made of carded cotton yarns. It is constructed in plain weave.
CASHMERE:
Cashmere is a soft hair fiber obtained from the Cashmere goat.
The fabric made is warm and soft.
It is used for making scraves and coats.
CHALLIS:
Challis is a soft, lightweight, plain weave fabric, usually made of worsted yarns.
It is printed with floral or paisley designs.
As it drapes very well, it is mainly used for dresses.
CHAMBRAY:
Chambray is a light to medium weight, plain weave fabric with an almost square count (80 x 76), It has a colored warp and usually a white filling. It is used for making shirts, children’s clothing and dresses.
CHEESECLOTH:
Cheesecloth is a soft, loosely woven, plain weave cotton fabric. It has equal number of yarns in both warp and weft direction, that is equal number of ends per inch and picks per inch. It has a crinkled appearance and is used for making nightwear and shirts.
CHEVIOT:
Cheviot is a heavy, durable and smooth finished woolen or worsted tweed fabric. It may or may not be made from cheviot wool. It is used for making jackets, coats and suits.
CHIFFON:
Chiffon is a light weight, sheer, shiny and plain weave silk fabric.
It has an open weave and crepe-like hand as it is made from highly twisted yarns.
It has a good fall and is used for making evening wear and lingerie.
CHINA SILK:
China Silk is a soft and extremely light weight silk fabric made in plain weave.
It has a characteristic irregular texture because of the usage of very soft and light weight fibers.
CHINO:
Chino is medium weight cotton fabric.
It is closely woven in twill weave. It has a slight shine and is used for making trousers and uniforms.
CHINTZ:
Chintz is a fine and highly lustrous plain weave cotton fabric with a bright, glazed finish. It is light to medium weight fabric. It is usually finished as a printed cloth and mainly used for soft furnishings.
CUT SPOT:
Cut Spot is a woven fabric with small patterns made with extra weft yarns. The long floats of the weft yarns on the back of the fabric are cutaway. It is used as dress material.
CREPE:
Crepe is a light to medium weight, fine fabric, which is used for making flowing garments as it drapes well. It has a crinkled surface due to the crepe yarn, that is high twist silk yarns or chemicals or crepe weave used for its construction.
CREPE DE CHINE:
Crepe de chine is a light to medium weight fine fabric that has crinkled surface due to the crepe yarn, which is a high twist yarn used for its construction.
CRETONNE:
Cretonne is a medium to heavy weight plain weave cotton printed fabric.
It is used for making aprons and summer clothing.
COATING:
Coating is a bulky fabric with a prominent nap.
It is used for making large and loosely fitted garments for outerwear, such as coats and capes.
CORDUROY:
Corduroy is a ribbed, high luster, cut pile cotton fabric, which is usually medium to heavy in weight. It has extra filling threads that for lengthwise ribs. It is used for making men’s wear and children’s clothes.
CREPON or CRINKLE COTTON:
Crepon is a crinkled cotton fabric. At times, it contains other fibers. It is soft and absorbent and is comfortable to wear. It is used as dress material.
DAMASK:
Damask is a firm textured reversible fabric with raised patterns.
It has a satin weave against a plain background.
It is mainly used for waist coats, curtains and upholstery.
DENIM:
Denim is an unbalanced twill weave fabric made of hard twist yarns with the warp yarns dyed blue and filling yarns undyed. It is a medium weight, strong and washable fabric, which is used for making casual clothing for children and adults.
DEVORE OR BURNT OUT:
Devore or Burnt Out Fabrics are made from fiber blends in which one of the fibers is burnt out with the help of a chemical, producing an opaque pattern on a transparent background.
DIMITY:
Dimity is a lightweight sheer cotton fabric constructed in plain weave variation. It has lengthwise cords running in the fabric, formed by grouping several warp yarns together.
DOBBY:
Dobby has small geometric designs manufactured with the help of a dobby head on the normal loom. It is used as dress material.
DOUBLE FACE:
Double face is a reversible double cloth made with contrasting colors. Both the sides of the fabric can be used as the face. It is used for outerwear and furnishings.
DRILL:
Drill is also a strong twill weave cotton fabric similar to denim. It is dyed in solid colors and is used for making uniforms in khaki color, casual clothes and work wear.
DUCK:
Duck is a durable, medium weight fabric constructed in plain weave.
It is used for making industrial clothing.
DUPION:
Dupion has a characteristic uneven surface as it is made from double strands of silk obtained from two interlocked cocoons. It is used as dress material.
FIL-A-FIL:
Fil-a-Fil is a 2/2 twill weave fabric in which light and dark colors alternate in both warp and weft directions, making a miniature staircase pattern. It is used for suits.
FLANNEL:
Flannel is a strong fabric made of different weights in wool, worsted or mixed fibers. It has a characteristic napped finish on both sides and is made in plain or twill weave. It is used for making shirts, pajamas and other night wear.
FLANNELETTE:
Flannelette is a light to medium weight plain weave soft cotton fabric, which is brushed on one side. It is light in weight than flannel and is used for making shirts and pyjamas.
FLOCK:
Flock has man-made fiber tufts attached to a background fabric with an adhesive. It is used for dresses, jackets and upholstery.
FUR:
Fur refers to animal skin along with hair, fleece or fur fibers. Furs are obtained from animals, such as mink, chinchilla and silver fox, Imitation for is made from man-made fibers, such as modacrylic. Both types of fur are used to make outerwear, hats and bags.
GABARDINE:
Gabardine is a twill weave fabric made of a variety of natural and synthetic fibers.
It is a medium weight fabric made of fine yarns.
It is used for making a variety of garments.
GAUZE:
Gauze is a sheer, lightweight, open construction plain weave cotton fabric. It is mainly used for making bandages.
GEORGETTE:
Georgette is a transparent lightweight fabric made of highly twisted silk yarns. The twisted yarns are used in both warp and weft directions. It is used for making a variety of garments.
GINGHAM:
Gingham is a light to medium weight, plain weave and strong fabric. It is usually yarn dyed and woven to create stripes, checks or plaids. It is usually used for making curtains, draperies, bed spreads, table linen, dresses, shirts and children’s clothes.
GLAZED COTTON:
Glazed cotton is a shiny cotton fabric woven in satin weave.
GLEN CHECK:
Glen check is colour woven fabric with overlaid checks of different sizes in tone on tone or contrasting colours. It is used for making suits.
HERRINGBONE:
Herringbone is woven with reverse twill weave, often in contrasting colors in warp and weft directions. It is used for making coats and suits.
HONAN SILK:
Honan silk is a fine to medium weight, plain weave fabric, with a rough handle made from wild silk. It can be plain dyed or printed and is somewhat irregular in warp and weft directions. It is used for making dresses and furnishing materials.
HONEY COMB / WAFFLE:
Honey Comb / Waffle is a woven cotton fabric in which warp and weft threads form ridges and hollows, giving a cellular appearance.
HOUNDSTOOTH:
Houndstooth is made by the 2/2 twill weave pattern. The design has short diagonal extensions at the corners. The pattern can even be printed. They are used for suits.
INTERLOCK:
Interlock is a double sided weft knitted fabric in interlock construction, which is fine and extensible. It is used for making tee-shirts and underwear.
JACQUARD WOVEN:
Jacquard woven is manufactured on a jacquard loom and has detailed and intricate motifs or designs. It is used for dress material and furnishings.
JACQUARD KNITTED:
Jacquard Knitted has designs that are made using different colored yarns to knit on the face of the fabric. It is used for making sweaters, cardigans, skirts and dresses.
JEAN:
Jean is a medium weight, durable cotton fabric. It is made of fine cotton yarn in twill weave. It is lighter and finer than drill fabric. It is used for making trousers, skirts, jackets and other things.
JERSEY:
Jersey is a weft knit fabric made of all knit stitches. It drapes well and is crease resistant but the edges tend to roll. It is used for tee shirts and sportswear.
KHAKI:
Khaki is a warp faced twill fabric in tan or dusty earth color. It is softer and finer than drill fabric. The fabric is made of cotton, linen, wool, worsted or man-made fibers and blends.
LAWN:
Lawn is a high quality cotton fabric made of very fine yarns. It is lightweight, plain weave, sheer and fine fabric, which is smooth and absorbent. It is used for making dresses, kurtas, lingerie and baby wear.
LEATHER:
Leather is made from the front side of animal skin. It is tanned, finished and used for outerwear.
LENO:
Leno is a loose open fabric created by leno weave. It is used as dress material.
LINEN HANDKERCHIEF:
Linen Handkerchief is a fine, sheer and lightweight fabric. It is used for making handkerchiefs and lingerie.
LINON / FRENCH LAWN:
Linon is a cotton fabric that has glazed linen like finishing given by heavy calendaring. It is used for making bedsheets.
LONG CLOTH:
Long Cloth is a poplin-like thick fabric made in plain weave. It is always white and has sizing finish.
MADRAS COTTON:
Madras Cotton is a hand woven, Indian fabric that has check patterns. It is made in plain weave from carded cotton spun yarns dyed with natural vegetable dyes. The colors tend to bleed and the fabric is used for making casual clothes.
MATELASSE:
Metalasse is a double cloth fabric with large figured designs that are given a quilted effect by wadding. It is used for making outerwear, evening wear and furnishings.
MICROFIBRE:
Microfibre is a densely woven durable fabric made from very fine fibers, usually polyester. They are usually water repellent.
MILANESE:
Milanese is a warp knitted fabric with distinctive diagonals visible on the surface. It is constructed with filament fibers and is used for manufacturing gloves and lingerie.
MOHAIR:
Mohair is a fabric made of long and soft fibers obtained from the Angora goat.
It is made in plain weave and has a hairy texture.
MOIRE:
Moire fabric has a wavy or watermark effect obtained by calendaring or pressing together two superimposed warp ribbed fabrics or by embossing. The fabric is used as dress material.
MOLESKIN:
Moleskin is a thick cotton fabric in sateen weave. The number of filling yarns is twice that of warp. It has a napped surface after finishing. It is used for lining and work wear.
MONK’S CLOTH:
Monk’s cloth is constructed in 1×1, 2×2, 4×4 or 8×8 basket weave, variation of plain weave, with heavy and rough yarns. It is used for drapery and upholstery.
MUSLIN:
Muslin is a plain weave, loosely woven cotton fabric. It is available in light to medium weight. In the unfinished state, it is stiff with speckled effect. It is used as an interlining in tailoring and sewing test garments. After finishing, it becomes soft and is used for making sheets, furniture coverings, dresses and other things.
NYLON:
Nylon is a strong but lightweight man made fabric. It is non-absorbent, builds up static and tends to pull. It is used for making rainwear, lingerie and ski wear.
ORGANDY:
Organdy is a thin and transparent cotton fabric in plain weave with combed spun yarns. Its sheerness and crispness are the result of an acid finish given to lawn fabric in gray state. It is used for making tops, dresses, curtains and other garments.
ORGANZA:
Organza has a characteristic transparent appearance along with being fine and stiff due to a permanent starch finish. It is constructed of silk or man-made filaments in plain weave and is used for making evening wear.
OTTOMAN:
Ottoman is a warp faced rib fabric that has 3 to 10 ribs per centimeter, and is used for making coats, jackets and furnishings.
OXFORD:
Oxford is a soft and lightweight soft cotton fabric constructed in small 2×1 basket weave with fine warp and coarse weft yarn. Contrasting colors in warp and weft directions give a miniature diced pattern. It has as smooth surface used for making shirts.
PANAMA:
Panama is a plain weave fabric where two or more warp and weft yarns interlace as one, giving a chequered appearance. Cotton fabric is used for making shirts and tropical suits; woolen is also used for making suits.
PEPITA:
Pepita is made by 2/2 twill weave pattern. As compared to Houndsmooth, it does not show the jagged edges of the squares. It is used for suits.
PIN STRIPE:
Pin stripe is a worsted woven fabric that has fine light colored lines in the warp direction. It is used for making suits. Other fabrics that have these types of lines are also known as pin stripe.
PIQUE:
Pique is a crisp cotton fabric in medium weight with raised dobby design. It has rounded and wavy welts in the weft direction with pronounced sunken areas in between. The face fabric is in plain weave with fine yarns. It is used for making kids and ladies wear.
PLAID:
Plaid fabric has large sized colored woven checks. Plaids are available in cotton, rayon, acrylic, wool or blends. The fabric is often raised or brushed.
PLISSE / CRINKLE / BLISTER:
Plisse is a cotton fabric that is puckered or crinkled by the action of caustic soda. It is used as dress material.
PLUSH / IMITATION FUR:
Plush is a woven or knitted fabric with a long pile of more than 3 millimeters. The pile is usually of acrylic fiber and can be printed to imitate an animal skin. It is used as fleecy linings and imitation fur.
POCKETING:
Pocketing is a plain weave cotton fabric that is made smooth and dense by calendaring and is used for making outerwear.
POLAR FLEECE
Polar Fleece is a lightweight fabric with a soft brushed surface. It is made of acrylic fibers and used for making outerwear.
POLYESTER:
Polyester is a man-made fiber that is soft, crease resistant and easy to maintain. It drapes very well and is used as a dress material.
PONGEE:
Pongee is a medium weight plain weave silk fabric that has a rough texture as it is constructed from irregular yarns obtained from moths other than Bombyx Mori. This silk is also known as wild silk or tussah silk. It is used for making garments of all types.
POPLIN:
Poplin is a fine, tightly woven plain weave, cotton fabric with fine cross-ribs formed by heavy weft yarns and finer warp yarns. It is dyed in solid colors. It is used for making shirts, blouses and dresses.
PVC:
PVC is a woven or knitted fabric that is coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
PVC is a non-porous and tough fabric and is therefore used for making rainwear.
RAYON:
Rayon is a man-made cellulosic fiber, composed of regenerated cellulose. It is a soft and absorbent fabric, used for making dresses and skirts.
RIB:
Rib woven fabric has pronounced ridges in the warp or weft direction. The fabric can be made of any fiber such as cotton, wool, silk and other man-made fibers, and is used for making dresses, coats, furnishings and the rest.
Rib knitted fabric is manufactured by alternating wales of knit and purl stitches which produce a distinct lengthwise rib effect on both sides of the fabric.
RUBBER:
Rubber fabric is produced from latex, the sap of the rubber plant. It is a water proof and flexible fabric. It is used for making rainwear, work clothing and novelty garments.
RUBIA:
Rubia is thin muslin, slightly thicker than voile. It is always made of ply yarns in a yarn count of 150s – 200s constructed with plain weave. It is used for making blouses and as dress material.
SAIL CLOTH:
Sailcloth is a medium to heavy weight durable cotton fabric. It is constructed in plain weave and is used for making jackets, boat sails and the rest.
SAND CREPE:
Sand Crepe is a crepe weave fabric in which short yarns float producing an irregular surface texture. It is used as dress material.
SATEEN:
Sateen is a medium weight cotton fabric in weft faced satin weave that has a semi-lustrous surface. It is used for making work uniforms and shoe uppers.
SATIN:
Satin is a fabric woven in warp faced satin weave and has a smooth and shiny surface with a beautiful drape. It is used as dress and furnishing material.
SATIN CREPE:
Satin crepe is a satin weave fabric made of filament yarns, crepe yarns in the weft, and normal yarns in the warp. The face is lustrous and the back is matt. It is used as dress material for tops and dresses.
SATIN SILK:
Satin silk is constructed in satin-weave, with silk yarns in warp direction and a synthetic yarn in weft direction.
SEERSUCKER:
Seersucker is a light weight cotton or cotton blend fabric with crinkled stripes woven in by setting some of the warp yarns tight and others slack. Different finishing treatments can also produce similar type of fabric. It is used for shirts, skirts and children’s clothes. Lightweight cotton striped fabric is also known as seersucker.
SEMI CHIFFON:
Semi chiffon is a chiffon like fabric in satin weave made of silk and rayon yarns.
SERGE:
Serge is a heavy weight durable worsted fabric. It has a smooth surface in solid colors made in twill weave. Yarns used in the construction are high twist and are closely woven giving it a shine. It is used for men’s suits.
SHAIMU SATIN:
Shaimu satin is a lightweight silk fabric woven in satin weave. It is woven closely with filament yarns and has smooth face with high luster and rough back. It is used for making fancy dresses.
SHANTUNG:
Originally shantung was a fabric similar to pongee. Nowadays, the term is used for plain weave fabric made from cotton, silk or man-made fiber, which have heavy and rough slub yarns running in the crosswise direction of the fabric.
SHEETING:
Sheeting is a thick muslin fabric with equal number of ends and picks per inch making it a balanced fabric.
SHOT SILK:
Shot silk is made from filament yarns also known as shot silk. The fabric has different colors in warp and weft direction, which produces an iridescent effect. It is used as dress material. The fabric is also known as changeant.
SILENCE CLOTH:
Silence cloth is a heavy weight thick cotton flannel that is thickly raised on both sides and used as an underlay to absorb noise on walls, table cloths and other things.
SPANDEX:
Spandex is a lightweight fabric made from elastometric fibers. Spandex under the trade name Lycra is combined with other fibers to add stretch. It is used for making casual wear and sports wear.
SUEDE:
Suede is a kind of leather that is made soft and dull by the process of napping. It is used for making coats, jackets and other outerwear. Suede is a durable product but requires special care as it gets damaged by moisture.
SURAH:
Surah is a soft and lustrous silk fabric with distinct and fine twill lines, and is used for making ties, dresses and furnishings.
TAFFETA:
Taffeta is a smooth, medium weight plain weave fabric that has a fine ribbed effect crosswise on its surface. It is lustrous, made with highly twisted filament yarns and is available in solid colors or in printed or woven patterns. It has great rustle on rubbing of fabric. It is used for making evening wear.
TAPESTRY:
Tapestry is a heavyweight fabric made of two or more sets of warp and weft dyed yarns. It is woven on jacquard loop and pattern is formed by colored weft yarns. It is used for upholstery.
TARTAN:
Tartan is a checked plain weave fabric mainly used for making kilts.
TERRY CLOTH:
Terry Cloth is a warp pile fabric having uncut loops on both sides. It is woven on a dobby loom with terry arrangement. It can also be woven on a jacquard loom to form designs. It is used for making towels and robes.
TERRY VOILE:
Terry Voile is a voile like fabric constructed in plain weave with cotton and polyester yarns. It is used as dress material.
TICKING:
Ticking is a heavy weight, strong, closely woven twill weave fabric made with a colored yarn stripe in the warp. It is used in home furnishings.
TISSUE:
Tissue is a metallic fabric made of one set of metallic yarns and other set of cotton, silk or synthetic yarns woven in plain weave.
TOILE DE JOUY:
Toile de jouy is a light to medium weight fine plain weave cotton fabric. It usually has one color scenic design printed on it. It is basically used in home furnishings.
TOWELLING:
Towelling is a cotton fabric that is slightly coarse in texture. It is made of low twist yarns that form uncut loops on the surface and are absorbent. It is used for making towels and bath robes.
TRICOT:
Tricot is a warp knit fabric made of man-made filament yarns. Fine vertical wales can be seen on the face and slightly angled coursewise ribs at the reverse side. It is used for making gloves, lingerie and dresses.
TROPICAL:
Tropical is a lightweight summer suiting fabric made in a variety of weaves and fibers. Fine and hard twisted worsted fabrics in plain weave are wrinkle resistant and breathable and are known as cool wool. Other tropical fabrics are blended; such as cotton worsted blends.
TWEED:
Tweed has a characteristic mixed color effect. It is thick and rough textured woolen fabric. The fabric is medium to heavy weight and constructed in twill or herringbone weave. It has a fuzzy surface and colored slub yarns. It is used for making men’s suits.
TWILL:
Twill fabric is woven in twill weave and is printed. It is used for making dresses, blouses, ties, scraves and other garments.
VELCOUR KNITTED:
Velcour Knitted is a velvet like knitted fabric made from a loop pile fabric by cutting and shearing the loops. It is used for making leisure wear and children wear.
VELCOUR WOVEN:
Velcour Woven is a medium weight dense cotton or wool cut pile fabric that stands erect. It is used for making outer wear, drapes and upholstery.
VELVET:
Velvet is a medium weight silk of synthetic filament yarn fabric with a cotton backing. It is a warp pile fabric. It has a short, soft, thick warp pile surface that stands erect. There are various varieties of velvet differing in their weights. It is used for making evening wear and is also used in home furnishings.
VELVETEEN:
Velveteen is medium weight dense cotton cut pile fabric that lies flat.
It is a weft pile fabric.
It is used for making dresses.
VINYL:
Vinyl is a heavy non-woven fabric made of man-made fibers. It looks similar to leather and is used for making outerwear and upholstery.
VOILE:
Voile is a sheer, transparent, soft, lightweight, plain weave fabric made of highly twisted spun yarns in a yarn count of 80s, 100s. It can be plain or printed. It is used for making baby wear, blouses, dresses, dupattas, turbans, saris and curtains.
WATTELINE:
Watteline is a loose and open warp knit construction fabric in tricot knit that is raised on the back. It is used for waddings and interlinings.
WHIP CORD:
Whip Cord is a densely woven warp faced worsted fabric with a steep twill line. It is used as suiting material.
WOOLEN:
Woolen fabric is made up of carded woolen yarns, is heavily milled, raised, brushed and cropped. It has a dull luster and is used as a suiting material.
WORSTED:
Worsted is a high quality fabric made from smooth yarns obtained from long and evenly combed wool fibers. It is used for making suits.