Note that a fabric is the physical material of a product, while a weave is the style and technique used to create a fabric.
Canvas: A heavy, tightly woven fabric. Also called duck cloth.
Chambray: Chambray is a lightweight fabric closely woven with white threads across a colored warp. The dressier class of fabric can be firm and features a slightly glossy surface produced by the finishing process known as calendering. "Chambray" comes from the French word "cambric", and was named so after the city the fabric was first used in, Cambrai, France.
Charmeuse: A beautiful fabric with a silky hand, glossy appearance and soft texture. It drapes well and is often used for formal wear.
Chenille: A fuzzy fabric featuring yarns with pile protruding around them.
Chiffon: Smooth, lustrous chiffon offers a lightweight fit with a flattering drape and is often used in eveningwear. As an overlay, it provides an elegant, floating appearance. Term originates from the French word for cloth or rag.
Corduroy: Cut pile fabric with ribs formed by using extra filling.
Crepe: A crinkled or grained surface fabric.
Damask: A glossy jacquard reversible fabric with a flat pattern.
Denim: Originating in Nimes, France, the traditional indigo blue fabric was called Serge de Nimes and was shortened to just "denim." The rugged cotton twill features diagonal ribbing on the reverse.
Faux Fur: A pile fabric with a woven or knitted backing, faux fur comes in a variety of weights and thicknesses. Usually, faux fur is more lightweight than fur, is less expensive to clean, and offers a variety of looks at a lower price than fur.
Flannel: A twill weave brushed on both sides to create a soft, warmth-trapping surface.
Fleece: A pile or napped fabric with a deep woolly surface.
Gabardine: A long-wearing fabric, the compactly woven twill features a very prominent texture. Invention of the fabric is attributed to Burberry founder, Thomas Burberry, and is named for a Hebrew cloak popular during the Middle Ages. Often used in suit pockets because of its durability.
Georgette: An elegant fabric that is lightweight yet strong and drapes beautifully. This beautiful fabric has a very flowing, bouncy and springy look. Its fluid appearance comes from the fabric's crinkly, crepe-like texture. The very thin threads are highly twisted, causing them to crinkle as they relax.
Grosgrain: Originally made from wool and silk to be used for jackets, petticoats and sleeves. In the 1920s, grosgrain became a ribbon that decorated a variety of clothing. Grosgrain is typically ribbed in appearance with a thicker, heavier feel and little luster. In addition to clothing, grosgrain ribbon is commonly used in book binding, as the strong fabric makes a good resource for reinforcement of spines.
French Terry: A knit jersey version of terry cloth that features loops of pile on one side only (whereas standard terry cloth is looped on both sides). The opposite side of French terry fabric has a smooth, flat unlooped back with a brushed finish. French terry provides stretch, making it popular in sporty or casual clothing.
Herringbone: A broken twill weave that resembles the backbone of a herring fish, hence the name. V-shaped pattern is popular for suits and outerwear.
Houndstooth: Featuring a unique small eight-point pattern, traditionally created in black and white. Originally found in Scottish Lowlands wool cloth, Glen plaid is often mistaken for houndstooth, but is created with a woven pattern of alternating blocks of color.
Jacquard: A versatile weave style that produces intricate designs and complex patterns.
Jersey: A single-knit, plain-stitched fabric.
Knit: Knits come in a wide variety of materials and textures. Usually, knits have more stretch than woven fabric and are more wrinkle-resistant.
Lace: An openwork fabric with complex patterns or figures, handmade or machine-made on special lace machines. Lace-making is a craft dating back to the 15th century and was especially important in fashion between the 16th and 19th centuries. Lace names often reflect the town in which the lace was originally made.
Organza: Formal apparel, including ball gowns and wedding dresses, are often created from sheer organza. Soft curtains are also designed from organza. Similar to organdy, the sheerest cotton cloth made, organza offers a crisp hand that holds its shape well.
Percale: A medium-weight plain weave with a thread count of at least 180.
Pique: Knit fabric with raised cords that make up the weave.
Ponte Knit: Blended with a touch of spandex for wrinkle-resistance, the fabric drapes to flatter while offering enough substance to resist clinging and maintain its shape.
Poplin: A tightly woven blended fabric made by using ribs or ridges on a plain weave.
Sateen: A weave that produces a very smooth, lustrous surface effect. Fabrics are soft, have a smooth hand and a gentle, subtle luster, and are luxuriously soft.
Satin: A weave with interlaced yarns, having no visible pattern. Creates a smooth shiny surface effect. Satin weaves often use high-luster filament yarns.
Seersucker: A lightweight fabric with crinkle achieved by varying the tensions in warp yarns.
Slub Jersey: A very soft, drapey fabric with a textured appearance running throughout. Lightweight and mildly sheer, the fabric is created from slub yarn. Slub yarn is yarn containing a high count of slubs, which are soft, thick nubs purposely set for a textured effect or there as imperfections. When slub yarn is knit to produce a fabric, the fabric - and its resulting garments - will have a unique irregular appearance.
Taffeta: Crisp and smooth plain weave with a sheen.
Terry Cloth: Loop pile covering the entire surface of a fabric, adept at absorbing moisture.
Tweed: Named for the Tweed River that separates England from Scotland, the weave is created with nubs of different colors. Some tweeds are made from wool, including Harris tweed woven from local wool in the Scottish Highlands. Can be woven with a variety of patterns, including checks or herringbone.
Twill: A basic weave in which the fabrics are constructed by interlacing yarns in a progressive alternation, creating a diagonal effect. Denim is a type of twill weave.
Velour: Refers to cut pile cloths in general.
Velvet: The fabric of royalty and nobility, velvet has long symbolized opulence and luxury. Since it requires more yarn and craftsmanship than many traditional fabrics, historically it was affordable only for the wealthiest people. In this tufted woven fabric, the cut threads are evenly distributed with a distinctly short and dense pile. The earliest references to the fabric date back to the 14th century and it is believed the art of velvet-weaving originated in the Far East. From cut to crushed to panne velvet, every texture brings you rich luster and a buttery soft hand.
Velveteen: A specialty fabric that imitates velvet. It wears well and is usually made from 100% cotton. A recognizable characteristic of velveteen is its short, dense pile surface that is smooth and soft to the touch.
Voile: A sheer, lightweight woven fabric in which the yarns have a high, hard twist to give the fabric a crisp hand. It is generally made of 100% cotton or cotton blends. The name "voile" originates from the French language and means "veil".