Textile Abbreviations

When purchasing fabric overseas, many times the use of abbreviations is common. Below please find the English translation of those abbreviations:

Abbreviations AC AF CA C!" C#$ C C%A C& C&' C( EA E! )A )! +& !, #A #AC #E # 'A 'A. 'C 'E/ '! '# '& 1A /E /, %A %1 (,

English Translation Acetate ther Fibers Acetate !yocell #odal Cotton %riacetate Cupro Cupro (iscose Elastane Elastane )emp Cotton*!inen +ute Fla-*!inen #odacrylic #odacrylic #etal #odal .ylon Acrylic Acrylic 'olyester 'olyester #etallici0ed 'olyester 'olyurethaneelastomer e 1amie /il2 /isal %riacetate %e-tile 1esidues*&nspecified Composition (iscose

(" WA WB W3 W4 W! W# W W' W/ W( W"

(inyl Angora Beaver (icuna Camel )air !lama #ohair Wool Alpaca Cashmere (irgin Wool "a2

Fiber $ictionary
A Acetate 5 A manufactured fiber formed by a compound of cellulose, refined from cotton linters and*or wood pulp, and acedic acid that has been e-truded through a spinneret and then hardened. Acrylic 5 A manufactured fiber derived from polyacrylonitrile. ,ts ma6or properties include a soft, wool5li2e hand, machine washable and dryable, e-cellent color retention. /olution5dyed versions have e-cellent resistance to sunlight and chlorine degradation. Alpaca 5 A natural hair fiber obtained from the Alpaca sheep, a domesticated member of the llama family. %he fiber is most commonly used in fabrics for dresses, suits, coats, and sweaters. Angora 5 %he hair of the Angora goat. Also 2nown as Angora mohair. Angora may also apply to the fur of the Angora rabbit. )owever, according to the &./. Federal %rade Commission, any apparel containing Angora rabbit hair must be labeled as 7Angora rabbit hair7 on the garment. B Bamboo 5 %he entire process of distilling and producing bamboo and bamboo blends fabrics is a green process. Bamboo is a natural cellulose fiber that achieves natural degradation in the soil. /tands of planted bamboo plants re8uire no replanting, pesticides or fertili0ers. Bamboo fabrics are naturally odor and bacteria5resistant. %hey are also porous, breathable and absorbent. Because of the latent strength of the bamboo fibers, fabrics based on or incorporating bamboo fibers are strong and durable. C Camel9s )air 5 A natural fiber obtained from the hair of the Bactrian camel, a

two5humped pac25carrying species. %he fiber is used primarily in coats, sweaters, and suits. Cashmere : %he fine and soft undercoat hair of the Cashmere goat which e-ists in ,ran, ,ndia, %ibet, #ongolia, China and ,ra8. Cashmere is one of the lu-ury fibers and today is usually blended with normal sheep;s wool or man5made fibers to reduce the cost. Another reason for the widespread blending is the fact that it ma2es the finished fabric more durable. ,t is mainly used for clothing such as sweaters, shawls, suits, coats and dresses. Chamois : Chamois is the soft, pliable leather from the s2in of the chamois goat, although other animal s2ins may be substituted. ,t is used for gloves and as a cloth for washing autos. Corn 5 .atureWor2s '!A, is a fiber entirely derived from corn, with the final product a 7natural plastic7. .ature Wor2s '!A is made from the de-trose e-tracted from corn. %he de-trose is then fermented to produce lactic acid. %he water is then removed and converted to fiber form. %he fiber is being produced as a 6oint venture <Cargill $ow 'olymers !!C= between Cargill, ,nc. and %he $ow Chemical Company, two of the biggest names in agriculture and chemicals. Fabrics made with .atureWor2s '!A offer a uni8ue combination of options. %he fabrics e-hibit the comfort and hand of natural fibers such as cotton, sil2 and wool while having the performance, cost, and easy care characteristics of synthetics. '!A fibers demonstrate e-cellent resiliency, outstanding crimp retention and improved wic2ing compared with natural fibers. Fabrics produced from '!A are being utili0ed for their sil2y feel, drape, durability and moisture properties. Cotton 5 A unicellular, soft, natural vegetable fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant. Fibers are typically >*? inch to ? inches long. %he longest staple fibers, longer than > >*? inch, including the 'ima and Egyptian varieties, produce the highest 8uality cotton fabrics. %he breathable te-tiles made from cotton fibers is the most widely used in the world. #ost fabrics made primarily of cotton are machine washable unless they are decorative, such as bar2 cloths, etc. Cotton is a fabric of medium strength and dyes well. .evertheless, cotton also absorbs moisture, serves as a haven for dust mites and compresses. Cupro 5 %he European cousin of tencel , Cupro is also somewhat similar to rayon in that it is reprocessed cellulose. !i2e tencel and rayon, the base material for cupro is a regenerated cellulose fiber . Cupro gets its name from cuprammonium, the process that is used to process the wood pulp or cotton linters that are its base material. ,n this process, the wood pulp or cotton liners are dissolved in an ammoniac copper o-ide solution. Cupro fabric breathes li2e cotton, drapes beautifully, and feels li2e sil2 on your s2in. ,ts slin2y, curve5 hugging drape ma2es it great for elegant dresses and blouses. D $orlastan@ 5 $orlastan@ is the embodiment of te-tile elasticity. ,t is a filament yarn which consists of segmented polyester5 or polyether*polyurethane. $orlastan@ was launched on the mar2et in >ABC.%he brand stands out for its

e-ceptional stretchability, elastic recovery and wearing comfort topped by an e-treme power of resistance and great durability. %his combination of stri2ing product 8ualities ma2es this elastane filament yarn an ideal component of modern yarn, fabric, and even apparel. $orlastan@ is commonly used in corsetry, waistbands, soc2s, medical stoc2ings, tights, swimwear and even sportswear. $own 5 %he soft, fluffy fiber or underfeathers of duc2s, geese, or other water fowl. &sed primarily for insulation in outerwear garments. E Elastane 5 <also: elasthane= or spande- is a synthetic fiber that can be stretched by between DEE and FEE G. ,t is stronger and considerably more robust than fibers made of rubber or natural caoutchouc, the primary plant5 based HalternativeI material. ,n chemical terms, elastane is a long5chain polymer containing at least FD G polyurethane. ,t;s tradenames are $orlastan and !ycra@ Compared to rubber, elastane has both greater tear resistance and durability and a tension capacity two or three times greater, at a third of the weight. %here are two principal methods used in processing elastane. ne is to wrap the elastane fiber in a non5elastic thread 5 either natural or man5made. %he resulting yarn has the appearance and feel of the outer fiber used. %he second method involves using pure elastane threads, which are wor2ed or woven into fabrics made from other fibers. %he added elasticity ma2es such fabrics more comfortable to wear. Blends with elastane depend on the type of fabric and the end use. Elastane is used in all areas where a high degree of permanent elasticity is re8uired, as, for e-ample, in tights, sportswear, swimwear, corsetry, and in woven and 2nitted fabrics. When stretched, it always reverts to its original form. n care labels elastane is often designated as 7E!7. F Fla- 5 %he plant from which cellulosic linen fiber is obtained. !inen is used in apparel, accessories, draperies, upholstery, tablecloths, and towels. Fur 5 Fur is a synonym for hair, used more commonly in reference to non5 human animals, usually mammalsJ particularly those with e-tensive body hair coverage. %he term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also 2nown as the 7pelage. %he ac8uisition and use of fur as clothing and*or decoration is considered controversial in some cultures H )emp 5 A coarse, durable bast fiber obtained from the inner bar2 of the hemp plant. &sed primarily in twines and cordages, and most recently apparel. )orse )air 5 Fibers that are hair from the mane and tail, for the most part, of Canadian and Argentine horses. ,t is occasionally used for upholstery, but is more commonly used in interfacings for stiffening and strength. ,t is always combined with other fibers. %rue horsehair is rare and fabrics loosely called horsehair are often made from other hairs <such as goat= or man5made fibers.

J +ute 5 ne of the natural fibers still used e-tensively for fabrics. ,t is a bast fiber that comes from 6ute plants grown primarily in ,ndia, >;a2istan, and Bangladesh. +ute is used for many purposes, including the manufacture of burlap, gunny sac2s, bags, cordage <twine and rope=, trimmings, binding threads, and bac2ings for rugs and carpets. L !ambswool 5 %he first clip of wool sheered from lambs up to eight months old. %he wool is soft, slippery and resilient. ,t is used in fine grade woolen fabrics. !aste- : A trademar2 used for a yarn having a core of elastic rubber wound with rayon, nylon, sil2, or cotton threads. !eather 5 %he hide of an animal with the fur removed. ,t has been used throughout history for clothing and other purposes. %oday, man5made fabrics that imitate leather are widely available. Common leather names include alligator, buc2s2in, calfs2in, chamois, cordovan, cowhide, crocodile, does2in, grain leather, 2id, lambs2in, mo5rocco, nappa, patent, peccary, pigs2in, pin seal, reptile, reversed leather, 1ussian, shearling, s2iver, sna2es2in, and suede. !inen 5 A fabric made from linen fibers obtained from inside the woody stem of the fla- plant. !inen fibers are much stronger and more lustrous than cotton. !inen fabrics are very cool and absorbent, but wrin2le very easily, unless blended with manufactured fibers. !inen is one of the oldest te-tile fibers. !inen is woven in various weights for different purposes and is occasionally used in 2nit blends. !lama : Common name for a long5eared /outh American ruminant that is domesticated from the guanaco. %he llama stands E.A to >.K m <K to C.K ft= high at the shoulder and is usually white, blotched with blac2 and brownJ sometimes it is pure white or pure blac2. %he long, coarse wool is used in the weaving of te-tiles, and the s2ins are tanned for leather. %his fiber has impressive luster and warmth and is very light weight. !lamas are found mainly in /outh America and the color of their hair may vary from white to brown and blac2. %his fiber has impressive luster and warmth and is very light weight. !ure-@ :!ure-@ is the brand name for a type of yarn with a metallic appearance. %he twine is most commonly a synthetic fibre, onto which an aluminium layer has been vaporised. 7!ure-7 may also refer to fabric created with the yarn. !ure-@ has, for decades, been 2nown as a byword for 8uality metallic yarnsJ it is a household name, but it is also a registered trademar2. A feature of the production is a dye resistant range of metallic yarns, which leaves the color and brilliance intact despite high temperature and chemical treatment. !ycra@ 5 !"C1A@ fiber is a man5made elastane fiber. ,t is never used alone, but always blended with other fibers. ,t has uni8ue stretch and recovery properties. !"C1A@ fiber adds comfort, fit, shape retention, durability and freedom of

movement. %his is achieved than2s to the uni8ue properties of the fiber, which can be stretched up to seven times its initial length before springing bac2 to the original position once tension is released. Any natural or man5made fibers can be mi-ed with !"C1A@ fiber. (ery small amounts of !"C1A@ fiber can transform the performance of a fabric : the amount of !"C1A@ fiber in a material can be as little as ?G. %here are various ways of integrating !"C1A@ fiber with other fibers to provide fabrics for all uses. !yocell 5 A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose. !yocell has a similar hand and drape as rayon, but is stronger, more durable, and in many cases machine washable. ,t has a subtle luster and is rich in color. !yocell possesses low shrin2age characteristics, as well as good absorbency and wrin2le resistant 8ualities. M #icrofibers*#icrodeniers 5 %he name given to ultra5fine manufactured fibers and the name given to the technology of developing these fibers. Fibers made using microfiber technology, produce fibers which weigh less than >.E denier. %he fabrics made from these e-tra5fine fibers provide a superior hand, a gentle drape, and incredible softness. Comparatively, microfibers are two times finer than sil2, three times finer than cotton, eight times finer than wool, and one hundred times finer than a human hair. Currently, there are four types of microfibers being produced. %hese include acrylic microfibers, nylon microfibers, polyester microfibers, and rayon microfibers. #il2 5 #il2 "arn is made from mil2 protein fibers. %o ma2e it, all the water content is ta2en out from the mil2 and then it is s2immed. A new bio5 engineering techni8ue is then applied to ma2e a protein spinning fluid. %his fluid is suitable for wet spinning process through which the final high5grade te-tile fiber is made. While spinning, a solvent is used by most of the manufacturers and micro50inc ion is embedded in the fiber which gives it the characteristics of being bacteriostatic and durable. ,t combines the advantages of both, natural as well as synthetic fibers. ,t is glossy and lu-urious in appearance, feel and comfortability, 6ust li2e sil2. ,t blends well with other fibers such as cotton, modal, tencel and bamboo. %he fabrics made from mil2 yarn are primarily used in manufacturing 2idswear, top5grade underwear, shirts, % shirts, loungewear, #odacrylic Fiber 5 A manufactured fiber similar to acrylic in characteristics and end5uses. #odacrylics have a higher resistance to chemicals and combustion than acrylic, but also have a lower safe ironing temperature and a higher specific gravity than acrylic. #odal 5 #odal is a cellulose fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. ,t is about DEG more hygroscopic, or water5absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. ,t is designed to dye 6ust li2e cotton, and is color5fast when washed in warm water. #odal is essentially a variety of rayon. %e-tiles made from #odal are resistant to shrin2age and fading. %hey are smooth and soft, more so than even merceri0ed cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from hard water, such as lime, do not stic2 to the fabric surface. !i2e pure cotton, #odal should ideally be ironed after washing. 'ure #odal has been used

in household linens such as towels, bathrobes, and bedsheets. #any te-tile companies use #odal mi-ed with other fibers li2e spande#ohair 5 )air fibers from the Angora goat. End5uses include sweaters, coats, suits, and scarves. N .on5Woven Fabric 5 A te-tile structure held together by interloc2ing of fibers in a random web, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal or solvent means. 3enerally, crimped fibers that range in length from E.LD to C.D inches are used. .ylon 5 'roduced in >AKF, the first completely synthetic fiber developed. 4nown for its high strength and e-cellent resilience, nylon has superior abrasion resistance and high fle-ibility. ,t is also stain and water resistant. /ome of the hallmar2s of nylon are its fle-ibility and color retention. ,t is also moth and mildew resistant. .ylon is also washable. .ytril 5 A manufactured fiber, most often used in sweaters or pile fabrics, where little or no pressing is recommended, as the fiber has a low softening or melting point. )owever, it has also been successfully used in blends with wool for the purpose of minimi0ing shrin2age and improving the shape retention in garments. O lefin <polyolefin*polypropylene= 5 A manufactured fiber characteri0ed by its light weight, high strength, and abrasion resistance. lefin is also good at transporting moisture, creating a wic2ing action. End5uses include activewear apparel, rope, indoor5outdoor carpets, lawn furniture, and upholstery. rganic : %hese fibers for these fabrics are grown using a production system that replenishes the soil and maintains its fertility. %he growing methods also reduce the use of to-ic pesticides and fertili0ers, while at the same time they contribute to biologically diverse agriculture. Fields must be free from synthetic chemicals for three years to achieve organic certification. ur organic and natural fabrics are based on bamboo, organic cotton and seacell fibers. P 'ashmina 5 'ashmina refers to a type of fine cashmere wool and the te-tiles made from it. %he name comes from 'ashmineh, made from 'ersian pashm <7wool7=.%he wool comes from changthangi or pashmina goat, which is a special breed of goat indigenous to high altitudes of the )imalayas. 'ashmina shawls are hand spun, woven and embroidered in 4ashmir, and made from fine cashmere fibre. 'ineapple or 'iMa 5 A fine fabric made from the fibers of the pineapple leaf. 'ineapple fiber is a strong white or creamy cobweb5li2e fiber drawn from tall leaves of an indigenous pineapple plant. %he fiber is hand stripped from the leaves in lengths of about >F inches to K feet, sun5bleached, hand 2notted and

spun. As piMa fiber recovery is only about >G, it can ta2e si- months to gather enough fiber to produce two pounds of spun piMa. 'iMa fabric is lightweight, soft, completely washable and elegant in appearance. ,t is similar to linen, however it is softer and more lustrous. ,t is often blended with other fibers such as cotton, sil2 and polyester. 'iMa fabric is widely used in ma2ing traditional dresses of the 'hilippines. 'olyester 5 A manufactured fiber introduced in the early >ADEs, and is second only to cotton in worldwide use. 'olyester has high strength <although somewhat lower than nylon=, e-cellent resiliency, and high abrasion resistance. !ow absorbency allows the fiber to dry 8uic2ly. R 1amie 5 A bast fiber, similar to fla-, ta2en from the stal2 of a plant grown in China. 1ayon 5 A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from wood pulp, cotton linters, or other vegetable matter. %oday, various names for rayon fibers are ta2en from different manufacturing processes. %he two most commonly used production methods for rayon are the cuprammonium process and the viscose process. 1ayon has a sil2y feel, lustrous appearance, good draping 8ualities and dyes well. 1ayon is used for tops, s2irts, shirts and dresses. S /eaCell@ 5 /eaCell@ is a cellulosic fiber with incorporated active substances of seaweed. First, a cellulose based fiber is produced using the eco5friendly !yocell process. %he resulting fiber then serves as the supporting material for the seaweed. /il2 5 A natural filament fiber produced by the sil2worm in the construction of its cocoon. #ost sil2 is collected from cultivated wormsJ %ussah sil2, or wild sil2, is a thic2er, shorter fiber produced by worms in their natural habitat. All sil2 comes from Asia, primarily China. /isal 5 A strong bast fiber that originates from the leaves of the Agave plant, which is found in the West ,ndies, Central America, and Africa. End5uses include cordage and twine. /pande- 5 A manufactured elastomeric fiber that can be repeatedly stretched over DEEG without brea2ing, and will still recover to its original length. /pande- is a lightweight, synthetic fabric 2nown for its strength, durability and resistance to water and oils. /pande- is also abrasion resistant. /uede : A common name in leather for the hide of a cow with the fur removed. /oft, tanned leather with the flesh side buffed into a nap. T %encel 5 Created from wood pulp, %encel is very soft with great drape. ,t;s

usually a medium weight fabric that suitable for pants, s2irts and 6ac2ets. %ri5Acetate 5 A manufactured fiber, which li2e acetate, is made by modifying cellulose. )owever, even more acetate groups have been added to create this fiber. %riacetate is less absorbent and less sensitive to high temperatures than acetate. ,t can be hand or machine washed and tumble dried, with relatively good wrin2le recovery.

(icuna :%he term vicuMa is applied to the fabrics manufactured from the wool of the animal, and also to te-tile fabrics made from the wool of the merino sheep in imitation of natural vicuMa. /uch fabrics generally resemble serge in weave but are fuller and softer and have a distinct nap. %e-tile industry uses the fibers to manufacture the softest coat cloth in the world. %he vicuMa mammal belongs to the camel family. %he animal is native to the Andes in /outh America, and is a close relative of the llama. (icuMas are small, slender animals with orange5red fur. %hey generally roam in small herds and have never been successfully domesticated. %hey are much hunted for their hides and for their wool, which is valued for weaving. (inyl 5 Any fabric made with a base of vinyl, including those listed as vinal and vinyon. %he term usually is used to refer to thic2 fabrics coated with a vinyl5 based coating used for such purposes as upholstery and raincoats. (iscose : %he most common type of refined rayon. (iscose rayon typically has a soft and sil2y feel. 1ayon is often used in linings for high 8uality garments. (iscose is also absorbent and drapes well. ! Wool 5 &sually associated with fiber or fabric made from the fleece of sheep or lamb. )owever, the term 7wool7 can also apply to all animal hair fibers, including the hair of the Cashmere or Angora goat or the specialty hair fibers of the camel, alpaca, llama, or vicuna. Wool refers to fleece wool used for the first time in the complete manufacture of a wool product. Wool differs from hair and fur in that it has a natural felting ability. " "a2 5 A long haired wild or domesticated o- of %ibet and ad6acent elevated parts of central Asia. "a2s provide three 2inds of hair for use in fabric. %he coarsest is belly hair, and is used to ma2e tent fabric and cushions for ya25saddles. %he medium5grade is from the sides and bac2 of the ya2, and is used to ma2e saddlebags, storage covers, and blan2ets. %he softest grade is from the nec2 of the ya2. ,t is very soft and has been li2ened to cashmere. "a2 wool weaves into fabrics that are e-tremely warm, lightweight, and very durable. "a2 hair is mostly blac2, though there is always some amount of white and gray hair. "a2s produce thic2 leather and "a2 horns are sometimes used for buttons.