Fabric
|
Description
|
| Acrylic |
Acrylic is a synthetic fabric made from a polymer called acrylonitrile. |
| Aertex |
Aertex is a trademark for a brand of loose-weave cotton fabric. |
| Bamboo |
Bamboo cellulose is used to make all types of rayon, including viscose, modal, and lyocell. These materials are semi-synthetic and require a large amount of chemicals to create. |
| Batiste |
Batiste, also known as Cambric or Chambray, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. |
| Buckram |
Buckram is a stiff cotton or linen cloth. Used for bookbinding, hats, and in clothing. |
| Calico |
Calico is a cheap, plain-woven textile made from unbleached cotton. Often, the cotton has not been fully-processed. |
| Cambric |
Cambric, also known as Chambray or Batiste, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. |
| Canvas |
Canvas is a course and durable plain-woven fabric traditionally made from hemp, but now typically made from cotton, linen or PVC. |
| Chambray (or Cambric) |
Chambray, also known as Cambric or Batiste, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. |
| Chino |
Chino is a twill fabric. It is typically made from either 100% cotton or cotton-synthetic blend. Vegan. |
| Chintz |
Chintz is a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric. |
| Cord (or Corduroy) |
Cord, or Corduoroy, is a textile made from twisted fibers that have been woven into a distinctive cord pattern. Normally made from cotton. |
| Cork |
Cork is made the soft bark of some kinds of oak tree. |
| Cotton |
Cotton is made from fibers that surround the seeds of the cotton plant. It is used as both a textile fiber and as a thread for sewing. |
| Cretonne |
Cretonne is a heavy cotton fabric used for upholstery. Typically printed with a floral pattern. |
| Denim (or Jean) |
Denim is a durable cotton textile with distinctive diagonal ribbing. Denim itself is vegan, but jeans sometimes aren't due to leather patches. |
| Dimity |
Dimity is a sheer cotton fabric woven with raised stripes or checks. Hard-wearing. |
| Duck (or Duck Cloth, or Duck Canvas) |
Duck is a heavy woven cotton cotton fabric which can be used for both clothing and tents. |
| Elastane |
Elastane is a synthetic fiber that is stronger and more durable than rubber, while still retaining exceptional elasticity. |
| Elastic |
Elastic is a flexible stretchable fabric, typically cotton, nylon or polyester, made with interwoven strands of rubber or elastane. |
| Faux-Leather (Leatherette, Vinyl, or Polyurethane) |
Faux-leather is a synthetic fabric that replicates the look of real leather. |
| Flannelette |
Flannelett is a light cotton fabric that has been designed to imitate flannel. |
| Fleece |
Fleece and microfleece are made from PET, a plastic. Not to be confused with the fleece of a sheep or goat. |
| Fustian |
Fustian is a cotton and linen fabric. Strong, with a short nap, it is usally dyed in dark colors. |
| Gingham |
Gingham is a lightweight plain-woven cotton cloth. Typically produced in a check design mixing white with a bolder color. |
| Hemp |
Hemp is a tough fiber harvested from the cannabis plant. |
| Khaki |
Khaki is a strong twilled cloth usually made from cotton and linen. |
| Lame |
Lame is a fabric made using a mix of one material (often synthetic) with thin metallic fibers to create a shiny, metallic-looking fabric. |
| Leatherette (or Imitation leather) |
Leatherette is an imitation leather made from paper, cloth, synthetics, or other materials. |
| Linen |
Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Cool and fresh in hot weather. |
| Lint |
Lint is a linen or cotton fabric with a raised nap on one side. Commonly used to make bandages. |
| Lisle |
Lisle is a fine fabric made from lisle yarn, (a strong, high-twisted yarn made of cotton). |
| Lyocell |
Lyocell is a type of Rayon made using the Lyocell process. It is a semi-synthetic fabric made using wood or bamboo cellulose. |
| Mackintosh (or Macintosh) |
Mackintosh is a lightweight waterproof fabric, usually rubberized. |
| Madras |
Madras is a lightweight fabric made from cotton. It typically has a patterned texture and a plaid design. Ideal for summer clothing. |
| Marseille |
Marseille is a strong cotton fabric. It has a raised pattern and is used for bedspreads. |
| Mesh |
Mesh is material that resembles a net due to a large number of closely-spaced holes. Typically made of nylon or polyester. |
| Microfiber |
Microfiber is a very fine synthetic yarn. |
| Modal |
Modal is a type of Rayon. It is a semi-synthetic fiber made out of tree or bamboo cellulose. Used alone or sometimes blended (often with cotton). |
| Moleskin |
Moleskin is a durable cotton fabric with a velvety nap. It is not made from moles. |
| Monk's cloth |
Monk's cloth is a heavy cloth made from cotton with a basket weave. |
| Moquette |
Moquette is a synthetic fabric. It is thick and velvety and is normally used for carpets and soft upholstery. |
| Muslin |
Muslin is a loose plain weave cotton fabric. |
| Nankeen |
Nankeen is a pale yellow cotton cloth. |
| Neoprene |
Neoprene is a synthetic alternative to rubber. |
| Nylon |
Nylon is a synthetic polymer made from materials derived from petroleum. |
| Oilcloth |
Oilcloth refers to a cloth treated on one side with a drying oil or synthetic resin. |
| Organdie (or Organdy) |
Organidie is a sheer stiff muslin. |
| Orlon |
Orlon is a brand name for first acrylic fibers created by DuPont. |
| Percale |
Percale is a closely-woven cotton fabric used to make bed covers. |
| PET (or PETE) |
PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a plastic. When used in fashion is is normally called polyester. |
| Pilot Cloth |
Pilot cloth is a heavy woolen material with a thicknap. Used for seamen's uniforms. |
| Pique |
Pique is a weaving style characterized by fine ribbing. Normally used with cotton yarn. |
| Polar Fleece (or Polar Wool) |
Polar fleece is a highly-insulating fabric with a soft nap. Made from synthetics such as polyester. |
| Polyester |
Polyester is category of synthetic fibers. The Most common is PET. |
| Prima Loft |
Prima Loft is a brand of synthetic insulating materials developed for the US Army in the 1980s. |
| Ramie |
Ramie is a natural fiber made from the stalks of the Chinese Nettle plant. It is similar to linen, and has been used for fabric for more than 5,000 years. |
| Rayon |
Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by chemically treating tree and bamboo cellulose. |
| Sailcloth |
Sailcloth is any fabric used for boat sails. Could be cotton, nylon, or Dacron. |
| Sateen |
Sateen is a cotton (or sometimes rayon) fabric with a satiny finish. |
| Scrim |
Scrim is a lightweight woven fabric used in curtains, bookbinding, and upholstery. May also refer to a heavier reinforcement material used art, building, and canvas making. Made from cotton or flax. |
| Seersucker |
Seersucker is a light fabric normally made of cotton with alternating rough and smooth stripes. |
| Silesia |
Silesia is a twilled cotton fabric used for pockets and linings. |
| Spandex |
Spandex is an extremely stretch synthetic fiber used in the manufacture of elastic clothing. |
| Tapa (or Tappa) |
Tapa is a paper-like cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark. |
| Tencel |
Tencel is a brand of lyocel and modal rayon fibers produced by Lenzing. It is a semi-synthetic fabric made from the natural cellulose found in wood pulp. |
| Thinsulate |
Thinsulate is a brand of synthetic themally-insulating fiber used in clothing. |
| Ultrasuede |
Ultrasuede is a synthetic microfiber used as a substitute for suede leather. |
| Velcro |
Velcro is a fastener for clothes consisting of two connecting sides, one with stiff hooks, the other softer loops. Both sides are made from nylon. |
| Velour |
Velour is a plush fabric made from cotton or polyester that resembles velvet. It can be produced cheaper than velvet and is vegan. |
| Velveteen |
Velveteen is a cotton fabric with a dense pile made to resemble velvet. |
| Vinyl (or PVC) |
Vinyl, or PVC, is a plastic. |
| Viscose |
Viscose is a type of rayon made using the viscose process. It is made from tree and bamboo cellulose and commonly used in fashion. |
| Voile |
Voile is a sheer fabric, usually made of either 100% cotton or cotton blended with linen or polyester. Used in curtain making. |
| Vulcanized Fiber |
Vulcanized fiber is a tough laminated plastic made from cellulose. |
