TYPES OF FABRIC

List from A to Z
The right choice of fabric can take an
outfit to success. This one the material
can assist you in choosing the ideal
fabric for each clothes, understanding
from A to Z the characteristics and
main uses of fabrics.
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A
Acrylic: it is a synthetic fabric similar to wool, soft, and with
little absorption. Used in sportswear and leggings.
b
Batiste: cotton or synthetic fiber fabric with a smooth weft.
It is light, thin, and transparent. Used in blouses, lingerie,
linings, and scarves.
Alpaca: light fiber with a soft shine. In general, it appears
mixed with wool for tailoring and fabrics. Used in suits, Bouclé: pure or mixed wool fabric, with curly threads and
jackets, and fabrics. irregular and rough surface. Used in women’s garments and
fabrics.
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c
Crinkle Velvet: made from short plush and pressed in one
or multiple directions for a shiny look.
Corduroy: robust fabric that is ribbed and made of various
fibers. Used in the manufacture of pants and coats.

Camel skin: classified in catalogs as wool. It is light and, in Cuprammonium: produced by a process that creates fine
general, made of twill type fabric, coming from the camel’s fiber filaments. It is a thinner and lighter fabric than viscose
soft undercoat. Today it is mixed with other fibers such as rayon, for example.
wool. Used in coats and jackets.
Chantilly: has an elaborate pattern with a fine net finish
on the edges on both margins. Generally used in the
manufacture of wedding dresses.
Ribbon Lace - Created by applying flower-patterned
ribbons on a fishnet background. Delicate, it needs a lot
of care in its handling. Used in wedding and evening
dresses.
Chevron: heavy ribbing, strips made of rayon or silk warped
over firm cotton ropes. Used in ornaments and ribbons.
Chiffon: a fine, semitransparent, open-weave fabric made of
many different fibers. Used in summer clothes, bandages,
and curtains.
Ciselé: made of a satin weave with velvet drawings on a fine
and semi-transparent background. Similar to flake fabrics.
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d
Diagonal twill: strong twill fabric widely used in the
manufacture of pants for riding and for walks, uniforms, and
skirts.
Donegal: Originally produced by hand in County Donegal,
Ireland. Currently, it indicates any tweed with thick, colorful
Damascus: this fabric is named after the city of Damascus, flames.
where Chinese silks used to arrive through trade routes.
This is a firm material, Jacquard type. Some are also made
from flax, cotton, or blends fibers. Widely used in furniture

E
coverings and tablecloths.
Devoré: it has a fine and semi-transparent background
pattern, obtained by a corrosive process known as burnout
(wear) that chemically dissolves the plush sectors after
weaving.
Elastane: better known as Lycra. It is an elastic synthetic fiber
Denim: it is a strong twill type. Single-color cotton, similar to
found in various fabrics, which even in small percentages
denim. Common in work clothes and uniforms.
(from 1% to 5%) increase comfort when wearing the garment.
Dupioni: also known as Dupion, it is used a lot in the making It appears most often in beachwear and lingerie.
of formal clothes and for weddings. This fabric is shiny silk
with a flamé effect and a weft of stretched fibers from folded
cocoons. There are versions with synthetic fibers.
Double Mesh: fabric with two identical sides. It has excellent
density and good recovery. Used in male and female
sportswear.
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f
Felt: TNT (non-woven fabric) made from wool, fur, or hair
fibers combined by heat, humidity, and mechanical action.
More and more felt is made from melted acrylic fibers. Used
in toys, vests, and jackets.
Fleece: thick wool fabric carded and sometimes mixed with
Feathers: rooster, marabou, and ostrich feathers are available nylon and luxurious hair fibers. Used in coats.
in various colors. They are usually sewn on a 12-millimeter
tape or overlocked on a cord. Generally used to decorate Fustian: light, sufficiently fine, and semi-transparent fabric,
coats, formal clothes, or costumes. generally made of cotton. Currently, there are varieties
made of synthetic fibers. It has markings in the direction of
French Lace Strip: very luxurious, this lace has a defined the length, stripes, squares, or small prints. Used in dresses
pattern with heavy thread, usually silk, in a fine, semi- and curtains.
transparent net around the outline.
All-over: has a standard pattern, frequently repeated

g
without a contour net or festoons.
Foam: this fabric has a flat, rough, and semitransparent weft
of pure or mixed cotton. As it is a light fiber, it is used more
in the production of summer clothes. Cheesecloth: fine,
smooth fabric, originally made of cotton, now also mixed.
Dyed yarns are woven into checkered or striped patterns.
Gabardine: rigid finish, medium weight to strong twill type
Used in children’s dresses, blouses, and clothes.
fabric, with heavy G, composed of different fibers or blends.
Faille: A closed-weave fabric made of silk, cotton, wool, Common in raincoats, sportswear, and pants.
or synthetic fibers with flattened transverse ribs. Used in
formal clothes and for the night.
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H
Harris: Handwoven woolen threads in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland.
J
Jacquard: fabric or intricate weft, generally with a raised
surface. It is similar to the damask fabric, it is used in clothes,
curtains, and formal suits.
Henan: also known as “pongee”, this silk fabric with a smooth
and light weft, with a slight flamé effect in both directions, Jersey: generic term for plain fabrics with knitted weft. It has
is usually dyed. Common in blouses and dresses. great transversal elasticity and is made of cotton, synthetic
materials, or blends. Used on t-shirts.

i
Interlock mesh: stable, fine weave fabric, previously used
only in undergarments. Now it is also used in the manufacture
K
Kersey: compact woolen fabric, tight weft, twisted, twill or
of informal clothes. Available in solid colors. ribbed, with a soft, short pile. Available in solid colors, it is
very common in work clothes and uniforms.
Ikat: the procedure by which the threads of the weft of fabric
are dyed or stamped. Formerly it was known as “chiné”, Knitted fabric: fabric produced with nylon, with vertical and
a reference to the Chinese origin of the procedure. These zigzag striations. It does not fray, it is fine and plush. Used in
fabrics are used often in dresses. the production of lingerie and summer clothing linings.
Irish: distinguished by the characteristic white fabric and
colorful weft.
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L
Lace: usually has floral or spiral patterns and is produced by
machine without using a base fabric. They are widely used
M
Madras: Lightweight cotton or cotton blend fabric, soft,
multi-colored, and traditional in India, his native land. Used
in finishes and dresses. Like rayon, there is a wide variety of in shirts and shorts.
lace. Here are some types:
Matelasé: luxurious fabric, usually with a Jacquard weft,
Lamé: any fabric woven with metallic threads to give a shiny with a relief pattern giving a wrinkled effect. Sometimes it
effect to both the background and the pattern. It can also has metallic threads in the weft. Used in nightclothes and
be embroidered with metallic threads. Used in the evening upholstery.
and formal wear.
Moiré: also known as wet silk, it is a silk fabric like taffeta
and processed through hot cylinders, to incorporate a hot
surface effect. Used in evening wear and wedding dresses.
Mohair wool: lustrous Angora goat fiber that can be straight
or curly. Fabrics that have mohair are generally mixed with
wool. Used in coats, suits, and shawls.
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N
Nylon: This word was previously a trademark, but today it is
commonly used to designate the strongest fiber that exists.
O
Organdy: fine, loose weft, and semi trans O - pure cotton or
blended. It has a rough finish and is widely used on curtains,
Despite being very durable, this fabric is not absorbent and blouses, and evening wear.
therefore can be uncomfortable and very hot in daily use. Organza: rough pure silk organdy with glitter. Also made of
Nylon is generally mixed with other fibers to increase the polyester, organza is used in wedding dresses and evening
absorbency and increase the durability of the other yarns wear.
that are mixed with it.
Nansu: flat, fine, smooth cotton fabric, or a blend of cotton Otomán: heavy fabric with transverse lines of different
with canvas or linen canvas. Used in handkerchiefs and widths, originally made of silk similar to taffeta and woolen
baby clothes. weft. This fabric was fashionable for party clothes in its
day, but today it is used more for coats, suits, togas, and
Nappa: made with a weft of cotton, silk, synthetic or mixed upholstery.
fibers, this fabric is usually carded to give an effect similar to
that of suede. Used in sportswear Oxford: cotton or mixed fabric, interwoven and generally
used for men’s shirts
Openwork fabric: existing in various weights, openwork
fabrics have a geometrically open weft. They are generally
made from nylon and are used to produce party wear.
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P
Plush: plush cotton fabric (on one or both sides), highly
absorbent. Ideal for the production of towels, bathrobes,
comfortable clothes, and baby clothes.
Plumetis: This is a fine, semi-transparent fabric made from
cotton or cotton thread blends. Very common in children’s
Paina: this fabric is composed of a cotton-like fiber from the clothing.
seeds of some trees, used to fill pillows and toys. The paina
is usually replaced by synthetic fillers. Polyester: synthetic fiber made from petroleum derivatives.
Its use is very wide, ranging from imitation of silk to mixing
Panama: cotton fabric with basket structure. Generally with other materials. Technology is mitigating one of the
produced from polyester and cotton with non-twisted yarns main problems of this fabric: poor absorption.
arranged in the weft. Used for hand embroidery.
Pongee: this fabric is made from a smooth and light weave,
Peau de soie: This fabric is also known as “peach skin”. It is a with a slight flamé effect. Common in blouses and dresses.
heavy, smooth satin weft with a soft sheen. It can be mixed
with polyester and is generally used in making wedding Pollinated Rayon: It is more resistant and suffers less
dresses and evening wear. shrinkage. Made by a process developed more recently
than viscose rayon.
Percale: smooth, fine, and light fabric with a soft finish.
Generally produced from pure cotton or mixed with
polyester. Patterned or plain, it is usually used to make
sheets. Pied-de-poule (plaid fabric): This fabric is made from
a small combination of twill-type fabric and colored patterns
formed in its weft. Used in suits, pants, and blazers.
Piqué: fabric made of pure or mixed cotton, with the weft
made on a loom. It has small geometric drawings in relief.
Generally used in the manufacture of sportswear.
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R
Synthetic leather: imitation sold by the meter that has a
myriad of finishes, such as suede. Used in tailored coats and
jackets.
Scarf: A soft or lightweight twill fabric, usually rayon or silk.
Used in ties and scarves.
Ratina: This fabric has a plush yarn made of various fibers
and is generally used in dresses. Scrim: fabric generally made of cotton. It has a smooth and
open weave and is used in theatrical settings, curtains, and
Rayon: This is a lightweight, cheap, and quick-drying fabric flags.
made from cellulose and widely used in blouses, dresses,
and linings. On the market, there are different types of rayon. Silk: natural fiber obtained from the opening of the cocoons
of the larvae of the silkworm. It is a strong fabric, but with
a delicate and shiny appearance. Silk has been replaced by
some synthetic fibers and mixed with other yarns to reduce

S
the price or produce different effects.
Shantung: smooth weft fabric with flamé threads, which
gives it’s surface a rough and uneven appearance. It is made
with silk fibers and is used in formal clothes.
Shetland: sheep wool yarn from the Shetland Islands,
Sari: This fabric has a diversified design and is often made northern Scotland. Rough, light, and warm fabric.
of fine silk or polyester, with gold or silver threads. The term
used to designate this fiber refers to a cut worn by South
Asian women.
Suede: soft, velvety yellow leather with a slightly soft texture.
This fabric generally has a smooth and homogeneous
textured surface effect. Used in polishing cloths and lining
of coats.
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T Taffeta: can be made of silk, polyester, or acetate. This

fabric has a rough weft, no reverse, and has a shiny
V
Velvet: pure silk or synthetic fabric, short plush, soft and
lustrous texture. Used in night clothes, curtains, and
surface. upholstery. Here are some of the types of fabric:
Tencel: fiber made from cellulose pulp by a different Velvety Fleece: thick, heavy fabric, carded, and shaved
process than rayon. Its characteristics are good to produce a suede-like finish. It tends to shrink, but it is
absorption and great resistance. Sometimes it receives durable. Used in pants and work clothes.
a “peach skin” finish. Used in sportswear.
Vicuña: soft, light, and lustrous fabric produced with the
Twill: soft fabric made of pure or mixed wool in diagonal reddish-brown wool of the vicuña (a species of llama from
lines. Common in the manufacture of suits and uniforms.. Peru).
Viscose: This fabric is made by a more common process and
has low strength.

U
Vinyl: Strong or mesh-based fabric covered with polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), giving its surface a vicious, waterproof
appearance. Common in the manufacture of raincoats and
other garments.

Ultra Napa:This is a luxurious washable TNT, similar to Napa.

This fabric is produced with synthetic fibers obtained by the
needling process. Used in clothes, finishes, and decorations.
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W
Wool: fiber produced from the shearing of domesticated
sheep, it is generally warm and resistant. The one indicated
X
Xantung: Plain weave fabric with flames threads, which
provide a rough and uneven surface. IS made with silk fibers
as “pure wool” in the US and Canada has 100% virgin wool. and used in formal attire.
The one that receives the label of “mixed wool” contains at
least 55% of that fiber mixed with another.

Z
Woolen: produced from a type of wool yarn with fibers
carded instead of combed to remove impurities, resulting in
a soft and warm fabric. Used in jackets and jerseys.
Woolen velvet: used in the production of informal and
comfortable clothes. This fabric has a short, thick fleece. It
has the lustrous appearance of velvet and can be found in
Zibeline: Mixed silk fabric, is made after hard smooth work,
bright colors.
straightening, and curling. Very common in wedding dresses,
Whipcord: sturdy, heavy fabric made of cotton, wool, or parties, and haute couture. The zibeline is more light than
synthetic fiber. It has a thick weft and twill type and is used satin, in addition to being very sophisticated.
in the manufacture of uniforms and clothing for riding.
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