Fabric Glossary – Fabric Wholesale Armbrüster

Natural fibers and cellulose fibers

Acetate

Semi-synthetic fiber based on cellulose with a silky sheen and fluid drape. Often used for elegant linings and shiny surfaces.

Alpaca

Soft, warming animal fiber from the alpaca, lighter than sheep wool and pleasant to the touch.

Angora

Fine, very soft fiber from the angora rabbit. Light, fluffy and strongly warming.

Cotton

Plant fiber from the seed hairs of the cotton plant. Soft, breathable, skin-friendly and extremely versatile.

Bourette (bourette silk)

Silk from short leftover fibers. Matte, slightly textured and with an irregular structure.

Cupro

Cellulose fiber from the short fibers of cotton. Silky feel, fluid and breathable, often as high-quality lining or dress fabrics.

Hemp

Robust plant fiber, durable and breathable, similar in feel to linen.

Jute

Coarse, inexpensive plant fiber. Robust and more suitable for bags and interiors.

Camel hair

Soft, warming luxury fiber from the camel, typical for high-quality coats.

Cashmere

Very fine, soft luxury fiber from the cashmere goat. Light, warming and particularly high quality.

Linen

Plant fiber from the flax stalk. Cool, absorbent and breathable, with a natural look and typical tendency to wrinkle. Pure linen consists of 100 percent linen, half-linen is a linen-cotton blend.

Lyocell

Eco-friendly cellulose fiber (often under the brand name Tencel). Soft, strong and with a beautiful drape.

Merino

Particularly fine, soft wool from the Merino sheep. Hardly itchy and pleasant to wear against the skin.

Modal

Advanced cellulose fiber from beech wood. Very soft, more dimensionally stable and colorfast than classic viscose.

Mohair

Shiny, light and durable fiber from the Angora goat, often for voluminous knitwear.

Ramie (China grass)

Shiny, strong plant fiber with linen-like character.

Silk

Fine, noble animal fiber from the silk moth. Shiny, flowing and elegant.

Tussah silk (wild silk)

Coarser, natural-colored silk with a lively, irregular structure.

Vigogne (vicuna)

Extremely fine, rare luxury fiber from the vicuna. Especially soft and high quality.

Viscose

Regenerated cellulose fiber from wood. Soft, flowing, absorbent and skin-friendly, with a modern drape.

Wool

Animal fiber from sheep. Warming, dimensionally stable and with good moisture management.

Cotton and woven fabrics (qualities and weaves)

Barchent

Brushed, soft cotton fabric. Warm, for underwear and shirts.

Batiste

Very fine, light cotton fabric. Delicate and airy, ideal for blouses and summer pieces.

Cotton sateen

Cotton fabric in satin weave with a smooth, slightly shiny surface.

Flannelette

Double-sided brushed, very soft and warm cotton fabric, often for bed linen.

Canvas

Strong, dense cotton fabric. Robust and dimensionally stable, for bags and outerwear.

Chambray

Light fabric with colored warp and white weft. Denim-like look, but softer and lighter.

Chintz

Smooth finished, shiny cotton fabric, often printed.

Corduroy (cord velvet)

Cotton fabric with longitudinal velvet ribs. Warm and hard-wearing, from fine to wide corduroy.

Cretonne

Dense, smooth cotton fabric in plain weave, often printed.

Damask

Glossy patterned fabric with pattern created by weave changes. Elegant, for festive fashion and table linen.

Denim

Robust cotton twill fabric (classic jeans fabric). Durable and long-lasting.

Drell (drill)

Strong, densely woven twill fabric. Very hard-wearing.

Herringbone

Twill fabric with a v-shaped, herringbone-like pattern.

Flannel

Soft brushed fabric from cotton or wool. Warm and soft to the touch.

Terry

Cotton fabric with loops. Absorbent, for towels and swimwear.

Gabardine

Closely woven twill with a smooth, dimensionally stable surface. Good for trousers, skirts and coats.

Glencheck

Classic check pattern (also Prince-of-Wales check), typical for wool fabrics and elegant blazers or suits.

Calico

Light, smooth cotton fabric in plain weave, often printed.

Cross twill (twill)

Type of weave with visible diagonal rib (twill). Hard-wearing and with a good drape; basis for fabrics like denim or gabardine.

Molton

Soft, double-sided brushed cotton fabric. Opaque and common as stage fabric.

Muslin

Light, loosely woven cotton fabric. Airy, soft and flowing.

Nessel

Natural, unbleached cotton fabric. Raw, often for sample models (toiles).

Oxford

Cotton fabric with basket weave, classic for shirts.

Piqué

Cotton fabric with honeycomb-like, slightly relief structure. Typical for polos and shirts.

Poplin

Closely woven, smooth cotton fabric in plain weave with fine cross ribs. Popular for shirts and blouses.

Renforcé

Closely woven, smooth cotton fabric in plain weave, classic for bed linen.

Seersucker

Cotton fabric with permanently crinkled stripes. Light, airy and non-iron.

Voile

Very fine, light and transparent fabric from cotton or blended fibers.

Wool and coat fabrics

Bouclé

Fabric or knit of looped yarn with a knobby, characterful surface. Popular for jackets and suits.

Cheviot

Crisp, robust wool fabric with a slightly rough surface.

Doubleface

Reversible fabric made of two connected layers, often wool. Ideal for coats without visible lining.

Felt

Non-woven, compact fabric from felted wool fibers. Dimensionally stable and cut-resistant edges.

Fresco

Airy woven worsted fabric. Light and dimensionally stable, for summer suits.

Worsted

From long, parallel combed wool fibers. Smooth and fine, for high-quality suits.

Loden

Dense, fulled wool fabric, wind- and water-repellent. Classic for coats.

Coating fleece

Soft, voluminous and brushed coat fabric with warming character.

Coat wool

Heavy wool quality for coats, giving structure, volume and substance.

Melton

Densely fulled, felt-like wool fabric. Warm and wind-resistant, for coats.

Carded yarn

From shorter, uncombed wool fibers. More voluminous and rougher than worsted.

Tweed

Melange, textured wool fabric with tradition. Ideal for jackets, coats and suits.

Boiled wool (walk)

Fulled, compact wool fabric with felt-like surface. Warm and dimensionally stable.

Whipcord

Firm, steeply ribbed twill fabric. Very hard-wearing.

Wool crêpe

Wool fabric with grainy crepe surface. Good drape and crease-resistant.

Silk and light fabrics

Burn-out

Fabric where a fiber component is chemically removed to create a transparent-textured pattern.

Charmeuse

Light, flowing satin fabric with shiny front and matte back.

Chiffon

Very light, transparent fabric. Airy and floating, for flowing dresses and blouses.

Cloqué

Fabric with a bubbly-relief, embossed surface.

Crêpe / Crêpe de Chine

Fabric with grainy, matte surface due to highly twisted crepe yarns. Flowing and comparatively crease-resistant.

Duchess

Heavy, shiny silk satin with body. Elegant and festive, often for evening wear.

Dupion (dupion silk)

Silk fabric with irregular slubs and a slight sheen. With body.

Faille

Fabric with fine cross ribs and subtle sheen. Elegant and with body.

Georgette

Light, matte shimmering crepe fabric with fine transparency. Flowing and very lively.

Habotai

Very light, smooth silk fabric, often for linings and blouses.

Matelassé

Double-faced fabric with quilted, three-dimensional relief effect.

Moire

Fabric with shimmering, clouded surface effect.

Mousseline

Very fine, light and soft draping fabric.

Organza

Thin, stiff and transparent fabric. Holds shape and ideal for adding volume.

Ottoman

Fabric with strong cross ribs. Firm and with body.

Pleated fabric

Permanently pleated fabric.

Pongee

Light, smooth silk fabric, often for blouses and fine linings.

Satin

Satin weave with shiny front and matte back. Flowing and elegant, available in silk, cotton or polyester.

Shantung

Silk fabric with irregular, slightly knobby surface structure.

Lace

Openwork, patterned fabric or knit. Decorative and transparent.

Taffeta

Closely woven fabric with body and slight rustling. Festive, holds shape and volume.

Tulle

Fine, net-like, transparent fabric. For volume as well as bridal and evening wear.

Textured and patterned fabrics

Brocade

Heavy, often metallic patterned jacquard. Opulent and festive.

Jacquard

Pattern woven on a jacquard loom, creating structure and relief directly in the fabric.

Lame

Fabric with woven-in metallic threads. Shiny and festive.

Lurex

Brand name for metallic shiny effect yarns and fabrics made with them.

Sequin fabric

Fabric decorated with sequins. Highly shiny, for evening and stage wear.

Velvet

Pile fabric with a dense, soft surface. Creates depth and special light effects, striking on stage.

Patterns and designs

Houndstooth (Pied-de-poule)

Small-scale, broken check pattern.

Pinstripe

Narrow, longitudinal stripes, classic in suits.

Paisley

Curved, teardrop-shaped decorative pattern.

Pepita

Very small houndstooth or check pattern.

Tartan (Scottish check)

Multicolored, traditional Scottish check pattern.

Vichy check (gingham)

Regular, two-color check pattern.

Elastic and synthetic fabrics

Bengaline

Firm, cross-ribbed and slightly elastic fabric. Dimensionally stable, for trousers and skirts.

Elastane

Highly elastic chemical fiber that gives fabrics stretch and recovery. Mostly used as a blend.

Functional fabrics / technical textiles

Technically finished fabrics with properties such as breathability, elasticity or weather protection.

Lycra

Well-known brand name for elastane; stands for stretch and good recovery.

Mesh / net fabric

Air-permeable mesh fabric. Popular for sportswear, layering and costumes.

Microfiber

Very fine synthetic fiber from polyester or polyamide. Light, soft, quick-drying and pleasant to the touch.

Neoprene

Stretchy, foamed composite fabric. Strong and basis of scuba look.

Polyamide

Hard-wearing synthetic fiber (nylon). Light and elastic, often in functional and sportswear.

Polyester

Versatile synthetic fiber. Tear-resistant, dimensionally stable, crease-resistant and easy-care.

Ripstop

Tear-resistant fabric with a reinforcing grid structure. Light and robust.

Scuba

Dense, elastic double knit with neoprene-like character. Strong and modern.

Softshell

Multi-layer functional fabric, windproof, water-repellent and elastic.

Special, effect, and coated fabrics

Fleece

Soft, brushed knit fabric from polyester. Light, warming and quick-drying.

Faux leather

Textile with leather-like coating of PU or PVC.

Fake fur (pile fabric)

Textile fabric with long pile as imitation fur.

Patent fabric

Fabric with shiny, lacquer-like coating.

Nicky

Soft, velvet-like velour from cotton knit. For children's and leisurewear.

Oilskin (waxed cloth)

Waxed, water-repellent cotton fabric. Robust, for jackets and bags.

Waxed cotton

Cotton impregnated with wax. Water-repellent and hard-wearing.

Knitwear (knitted and warp-knitted)

Knitwear

Umbrella term for fabrics made from interconnected stitches (knitted or warp-knitted). Mostly stretchy and soft.

Rib knit

Elastic rib knit for cuffs on sleeves and hem.

Fine rib

Fine rib knit, classic for underwear and shirts.

Fine knit

Fine knit fabric for sweaters and cardigans.

French terry

Knit fabric with smooth front and looped back. Classic sweatshirt fabric.

Chunky knit

Coarsely knitted, voluminous fabric for sweaters and cardigans.

Interlock

Double faced, smooth jersey on both sides. More stable and closed than single jersey.

Jacquard knit

Knitted fabric with incorporated pattern.

Jersey

Fine, soft knitted fabric. Close-fitting, stretchy and comfortable to wear.

Piqué (knit)

Textured knit fabric with relief surface, typical for polos.

Pointelle (openwork knit)

Fine knit fabric with small, regular openwork patterns.

Rib jersey

Ribbed, especially stretchable knit fabric. Ideal for cuffs and figure-hugging pieces.

Romanit (Punto)

Firm, dimensionally stable double knit. Very good for dresses and blazers.

Single jersey

Single-faced, light jersey fabric that curls slightly at the cut edges.

Sweat

Brushed, warm knit fabric for sporty models.

Techno jersey

Smooth, sturdy jersey for modern, clean silhouettes.

Waffle jersey

Knit fabric with honeycomb-like waffle structure.

Wool jersey

Soft, stretchy knitted fabric made from wool.