Fabrics
| Weaves
| Characteristics
| Uses
|
Acetate
| | Soft, crisp feel and durable.
| Clothing, uniforms, lingerie, linings, interlinings.
|
Acrylic
| | Durable, soft and wooly feel.
| Used as replacement of wool.
|
Alpaca
| Various weaves, knits and weights.
| Fine, silk-like, soft, lightweight, and warm.
| Men's and Women's suits, coats, and sportswear, linings, sweaters.
|
Angora goat
| Various weave and knitted.
| Smooth, very strong, and high luster.
| Carpet, upholstery, curtain, and automobile cloth.
|
Angora rabbit
| Various weave and knitted.
| Long, very fine, light weight, extremely warm and fluffy.
| Knit wear - gloves, scarves, sweaters, etc. for children and women.
|
Beaver
|
| Soft, silky, shiny.
| Fur coats, trimming fur and fabric garments.
|
Broadcloth
| Plain weave.
| Closely woven with smooth finish.
| Shirts, dresses, particularly the tailored type in plain colors, blouses, summer wear.
|
Camel hair
| Twill or plain
| Light weight, lustrous and soft.
| Coats, women's suits, sports coats, sweaters, some blankets and put in some very expensive oriental rugs. Also used in (fine) overcoating, topcoating, hosiery and transmission belts.
|
Canvas
| Plain.
| Mostly rugged.
| Hair canvas is an interfacing material in various weights.
|
Cashmere (Kashmir)
| All weaves but mostly plain or twill. All knits.
| Soft, silky and very lightweight.
| Knitted into sweaters for men and women, also women's dresses.
|
Challis
| Plain.
| Soft and very lightweight.
| Women's and children's dresses and blouses, kimonos, neckties, and sportswear.
|
Chiffon
| Plain.
| Lightweight, sheer, and transparent.
| Evening wear, blouses and scarves.
|
Crepe
| Mostly plain but various weaves.
| Crinkled and puckered surface with rough feel and appearance.
| Depending on weight, it is used for dresses of all types, including long dinner dresses, suits, and coats.
|
Damask
| Figured on Jacquard loom.
| Reversible fabric with woven pattern. Sheds dirt.
|
|
Denim
| Twill - right hand - may be L2/1 or L3/1.
| Originally had dark blue, brown or dark gray warp with a white or gray filling giving a mottled look and used only for work clothes. Comes in heavy and lighter weights.
| Pants, caps, uniforms, bedspreads, slipcovers, draperies, upholstery, sportswear.
|
Douppioni
| Plain.
| Irregular with many slubs. It is imitated in rayon and some synthetics
|
|
Drill
| Twill.
| Closer, flatter wales that gabardine.
| Uniforms, work clothes, slip covers, sportswear, and many industrial uses.
|
Flannel
| Usually twill, some plain.
| Soft, with a napped surface that partially cancels the weave. Dull finish. Made in a variety of weights. Shrinks if not pre-shrunk. Sags with wear, unless underlined. Does not shine or hold a crease.
| Blazers, dresses, skirts, suits and coats. Boys suits, jackets, and shirts.
|
Gabardine
| Steep twill
| Clear finish, tightly woven, firm, durable. Wears extremely well. Inclined to shine with wear. Hard to press properly.
| Men's and women's tailored suits, coats, raincoats, uniforms, and men's shirts.
|
Georgette
| Plain.
| It is characterized by it's crispness, body and outstanding durability. It is sheer and has a dull face.
|
|
Herringbone twill
| Twill.
| It is usually created in wool and has varying qualities.
| Suitings, top coatings, sports coats.
|
Houndstooth
| Broken twill weave.
| Weaned into an irregular check of a four pointed star.
| sportcoats, suits.
|
Mohair
| Plain or twill or knitted.
| Smooth, glossy, and wiry.
| Linings, pile fabrics, suitings, upholstery fabrics, braids, dress materials, felt hats, and sweaters.
|
Nylon
|
| Very strong, resistant to both abrasion chemicals. It is elastic, easy to wash and is quite lustrous. It returns easily to its original shape and is non-absorbent. It is fast drying, resistant to some dyes.
| Women's hosiery, knitted or woven lingerie, socks and sweaters.
|
Organdy
| Plain.
| Made with tightly twisted yarns. Crispness is due to a finish with starch and calendaring which washes out, or a permanent crispness obtained with chemicals. Wrinkles badly unless given a wrinkle-free finish.
| Collars and cuffs, artificial flowers, millinery, summer formals, blouses, aprons.
|
Organza
| Plain.
| Fine, sheer, lightweight, crisp fabric. It has a very wiry feel. It crushes or musses fairly easily, but it is easily pressed. Dressy type of fabric sometimes has a silvery sheen.
| Evening dresses, trimming, millinery, underlinings for delicate, sheer materials.
|
Oxford
| Plain variations - usually basket 2 x 1.
| Warp has two fine yarns which travel as one and one heavier softly-spun bulky filling which gives it a basket-weave look. Rather heavy.
| Men's shirts mostly. Summer jackets, shirts, skirts, dresses, and sportswear.
|
Polyester
|
| It is lightweight, strong and resistant to creasing, shrinking, stretching, mildew and abrasion. It is readily washable and is not damaged by sunlight or weather and is resistant to moths and mildew.
| Vary, depending on blend.
|
Pongee
| Plain.
| Light or medium weight.
| Dresses, blouses, summer suits.
|
Rayon
|
| It¹s drapability and dyeability are excellent and it is fairly soft. Rayon does have a tendency to shrink but does not melt in high temperatures. It is resistant to moths and is not affected by ordinary household bleaches and chemicals.
| Clothing, hose.
|
Sateen
| Sateen filling-face weave.
| Lustrous and smooth with the sheen in a filling direction. Better qualities are mercerized to give a higher sheen.
| Dresses, sportswear, robes, pajamas.
|
Satin
| Satin.
| Usually has a lustrous surface and a dull back. Made in many colors, weights, varieties, qualities, and degrees of stiffness.
| Slips, evening wear, coats, capes, and jackets, lining fabrics, millinery.
|
Spandex
|
| It is lightweight and flexible. It resists deterioration from perspiration, detergent and body oils. It is characterized by it¹s strength and durability.
| Athletic wear and foundation garments.
|
Taffeta
| Usually plain with a fine cross rib.
| It is smooth with sheen on its surface. The textures vary considerably. They have a crispness and stiffness.
| Dressy evening wear: suits and coats, slips, ribbons, blouses, dresses.
|
Tussah
| Usually plain but also in twill.
| It is coarse, strong, and uneven. Dull lustre and rather stiff. Has a rough texture with many slubs, knots, and bumps.
| In lighter weights, dresses. In heavier weights, coats and suits and ensembles.
|
Velour
| Thick, plush pile, with a plain or satin ground, or sometimes knitted.
| The pile is characterized by uneven lengths (usually two) which give it a rough look. The two lengths of pile create light and shaded areas on the surface. A rather pebbled effect.
| Dressing gowns, dresses, waist-coats.
|
Velvet
| Pile, made with an extra warp yarn.
| Velvet may be crush resistant, water resistant, and drapes well. Has to be handled with care, and pressed on a velvet board.
| Eveningwear, at home wear.
|
Voile
| Plain, loosely woven.
| Sheer and very light weight. To obtain a top quality fabric, very highly twisted yarns are used. Voile drapes and gathers very well.
| Dresses, blouses.
|
Wool
|
| It is very resilient and resistant to wrinkling. It is renewed by moisture and well known for its warmth.
| Clothing, blankets, winter wear.
|