Textile & Fabric Glossary
Your go-to reference for 100+ essential textile terms, defined in plain English. Bookmark this page.
A
- Abrasion Resistance
- The ability of a fabric to withstand surface wear and rubbing. Measured using the Martindale or Wyzenbeek test methods.
- Acrylic
- A synthetic polymer fiber known for its wool-like feel and resistance to sunlight degradation.
B
- Bouclé
- A fabric with a looped, curled surface texture. Popular in high-end upholstery for its tactile appearance.
- Blend
- A fabric made from two or more different fiber types combined during spinning.
C
- Cotton
- Natural cellulosic fiber harvested from the cotton plant. The world's most widely used natural fiber.
- Colorfastness
- A fabric's resistance to fading or bleeding when exposed to light, washing, or rubbing.
D
- Denier
- A unit of measurement for the linear mass density of fibers. Higher numbers indicate thicker fibers.
- Double Rub
- A unit of measurement in abrasion testing. One double rub equals one back-and-forth motion.
E
- Elastane (Spandex)
- A synthetic fiber known for exceptional elasticity — can stretch up to 500% and recover.
F
- Flame Retardant (FR)
- A chemical treatment or inherent property that slows or prevents the spread of fire.
G
- GOTS
- The leading international standard for organic textiles covering the entire production chain.
- GSM
- Grams per Square Meter — the international standard for measuring fabric weight.
H
- Hand (Handle)
- The tactile quality of a fabric — how it feels when touched or crumpled.
J
- Jacquard
- A weaving technique that individually controls each warp thread, allowing intricate patterns.
K
- Knit Fabric
- Fabric constructed by interlocking loops of yarn, inherently stretchy.
L
- Linen
- A natural fabric made from flax fibers. Known for exceptional breathability and durability.
- Lyocell (TENCEL™)
- A regenerated cellulose fiber produced through a closed-loop process.
M
- Martindale Test
- An abrasion resistance test standard primarily used in Europe.
N
- Nonwoven
- Fabrics made directly from fibers without spinning into yarns or weaving.
O
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- An international testing and certification system for harmful substances in textile products.
- Organic Cotton
- Cotton grown without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified seeds.
P
- Performance Fabric
- Textiles engineered for enhanced properties: stain resistance, moisture-wicking, UV protection.
- Polyester
- The most widely used synthetic fiber globally. Durable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying.
R
- Rayon (Viscose)
- A regenerated cellulose fiber made from wood pulp. Soft and breathable.
S
- Selvage
- The self-finished edge of woven fabric that prevents unraveling.
- Silk
- The only natural filament fiber, produced by silkworms. Unparalleled luster and drape.
T
- Twill Weave
- A weave characterized by a diagonal rib pattern. Produces strong, durable fabrics like denim.
U
- Upholstery Weight
- Fabrics suitable for furniture covering — typically 250+ GSM with high abrasion resistance.
V
- Velvet
- A luxurious warp-pile fabric with a dense, evenly cut surface.
W
- Warp
- The set of yarns that run lengthwise in a woven fabric, forming the structural backbone.
- Weft
- The yarns that run crosswise, determining the visible surface characteristics.
- Wyzenbeek Test
- An abrasion resistance test standard primarily used in North America.
Y
- Yarn Count
- A numerical expression indicating the fineness or coarseness of a yarn.