The 70+ Types of Fabrics and Textiles for Clothing: A Glossary

At Myles Price, we believe fashion is about more than surface-level impressions. Clothes should look good, certainly. But they should also be made of sustainable, high-quality materials. That’s why we use 100 percent Supima® Cotton in our line of LuxCasual apparel. 

Grown in the United States, Supima® Cotton offers an extra-long staple fiber. This makes the fabric luxuriously soft and unbelievably durable. In return, we can create garments that are comfortable yet elegant. 

Of course, Supima® Cotton is just one type of textile. There are dozens of others used in the fashion industry. To give you a deeper understanding of your wardrobe, we have rounded up 70+ types of fabrics and textiles below.

A

Acetate

Acetate is derived from wood pulp or cotton filaments that have been treated with acetic acid. Delicate and luxurious, this fabric is typically used for special occasion apparel.   

Angora Wool

Renowned for its softness, angora wool is an animal-based fiber made from the fur of Angora rabbits. It’s best used for pea coats, suit jackets, gloves, and scarves.  

Antron

Manufactured by DuPont, Antron is a type of durable, high-strength nylon fleece. The long-preferred fabric of professional puppet makers, Antron now appears in knitwear.   

B

Bamboo

Derived from the fibers of bamboo grass, this textile is both durable and soft to the touch. Because of this, bamboo is reserved for intimate apparel.   

Batiste

Traditionally woven with cotton or linen, batiste is a soft, gossamer fabric reserved for lightweight garments.    

Blend

A blend refers to any fabric made with two or more types of fiber. Polycot, for instance, is a polyester and cotton blend. 

Boiled Wool

Typically used for outerwear like jackets and cardigans, boiled wool is a dense, compact fabric produced by placing raw wool into boiling water.   

Bouclé

Derived from the French word “boucler,” which means “to curl,” bouclé is a bulky fabric created using looped yarn. This gives the material a nubby texture, making it perfect for sweaters and socks.  

Brocade

Brocade refers to a woven fabric with a raised, often floral, design. Though brocade is most often employed as upholstery, it also makes an appearance in formal wear. 

C

Canvas

Known for its durability and water resistance, canvas is a versatile fabric usually made from a cotton blend. In the fashion world, canvas is often used for shoes and outdoor clothing. 

Cashmere Wool

Cashmere wool, also known simply as cashmere, is a fiber derived from Cashmere goats, Pashmina goats, and other breeds. Incredibly soft to the touch, cashmere is often woven and knitted into sweaters. 

Challis

Made by blending silk and wool, challis is a flowy, lightweight fabric that’s best used for loose-fitting garments.  

Chantilly Lace

Chantilly lace is a type of detailed lace first created in 17th-century France using black silk. Today, the fabric is incorporated into bridal gown designs. It’s also used to embellish lingerie.  

Charmeuse

Renowned for its luxurious sheen, charmeuse is a lightweight fabric made from silk or synthetic materials like polyester and rayon. Thanks to its elegance, charmeuse is a great choice for women’s evening wear.    

Chenille

Decadently soft with a fuzzy, caterpillar-inspired texture, chenille is derived from a variety of textiles, including cotton, silk, wool, and rayon. It’s best used for shawls and blouses.    

Chiffon

Sheer and shimmery, chiffon is a lightweight fabric often used as an overlay to create dimension in evening gowns. 

Chino

A twill fabric made from cotton, chino is utilized to create chinos—a style of casual trouser.   

Chintz

Chintz is a glazed cotton with large, bright designs. Often reserved for home decor, chintz can also be incorporated into blouses and dresses.   

COOLMAX

A moisture-wicking polyester manufactured by Invista, COOLMAX debuts in athletic wear.  

Corduroy

A fixture of winter wardrobes, corduroy is a twill weave fabric with a ribbed pattern. It’s best used for trousers and vests.    

Cotton

Derived from the cotton plant, this natural textile is soft, durable, and breathable. As such, cotton can be incorporated into a variety of clothing products—from blue jeans to tees. 

D

Damask

Made from silk, cotton, or wool, damask fabric is characterized by jacquard-woven designs. Because of its ornateness, damask is best reserved for formal wear. 

Double-Knit

True to its name, double-knit fabric is created by sewing two layers of knitting together. This gives garments more structure, aiding with wrinkle resistance. 

E

Egyptian Cotton

Egyptian cotton refers to a textile produced using cotton grown in Egypt. Despite its reputation for softness, it’s important to note that not all Egyptian cotton is high-quality.   

Eyelet

Characterized by small patterned grommets, eyelet fabric is perfect for breezy summer clothing.  

F

Faille

Often made with silk, faille is a woven fabric with a faintly ribbed texture. It’s best used for formal dresses and gowns. 

Felt

Felt is a non-woven fabric made by matting and compressing fibers together. You can find felt in hat and shoe designs.      

Fiberfill

Fiberfill is a synthetic material that’s employed to line coats and padded garments. 

Fleece

Derived from plastic, fleece is a synthetic fabric favored for its soft yet breathable nature. Fittingly, fleece is ideal for outdoor wear and athletic garments. 

French Terry

French terry is a cotton-based knit fabric with soft yarn piles on the inside. These yarn piles give the fabric a cozy feel, making it perfect for hoodies, sweatpants, and other lounge-worthy garments. 

G

Gabardine

A twill-weave fabric with a diagonal texture, gabardine is commonly used to make suits, overcoats, and trousers.   

Gauze

This thin, sheer, cotton-based fabric is perfect for fashioning loose-fitting blouses and dresses. 

Georgette

Georgette is a woven silk textile with a slightly puckered appearance. A mainstay of high fashion, Georgette makes regular appearances in evening and bridal gowns.   

Gingham

A plain-woven fabric with a two-colored criss-cross pattern, gingham is best recognized as the material that lines picnic baskets. However, it can also be fashioned into blouses, beachwear, and handkerchiefs. 

H

Hemp

Harvested from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, hemp is a versatile and durable textile with natural antimicrobial properties. It can be used to make a variety of garments, from work pants to dress shirts.  

J

Jacquard

Jacquard refers to any fabric that has a woven rather than printed pattern. 

Jersey

Soft and stretchy, jersey is a cotton-based fabric that commonly appears in tees, tank tops, joggers, and other comfortable garments.    

K

Knit

Knit fabric is created by continuously looping a single yarn. This is different from woven fabric, which is created by weaving two or more yarns together.  

L

Lace

Traditionally made from silk and linen, lace is a delicate, ornate fabric used to embellish garments.  

Lamé

Lamé is a type of woven or knit fabric featuring thin ribbons of metallic fiber. This gives apparel a lustrous, almost futuristic sheen.

Leather

Composed of treated animal skins and hides, leather is a durable and wrinkle-resistant fabric that can be used to create garments as well as shoes and accessories. 

Linen

Derived from the flax plant, linen is a strong, breathable textile.

Lyocell

Composed primarily of cellulose, lyocell is a type of rayon that’s often used as a replacement for cotton and silk. 

M

Merino Wool

Merino wool is a very fine, soft wool harvested from Merino sheep. Breathable and odor-resistant, this textile is perfect for outdoor clothing like socks and base layers. 

Modal

Derived from beech tree pulp, modal is an absorbent yet breathable fabric often used to create underwear and tee shirts.   

Muslin

Dating back to Ancient India, muslin is a plain weave cotton fabric. Designers typically use muslin to create pattern mock-ups. 

N

Neoprene

Originally produced by DuPont, Neoprene is a synthetic rubber fabric celebrated for its water resistance. You can find this material in swimwear. 

Nylon

Nylon is a silk-like fabric manufactured using petroleum. Because of its elasticity, nylon is often incorporated into activewear.  

O

Olefin

Better known as Tyvek, olefin is a synthetic textile engineered to be breathable, durable, and water-resistant. As such, this material often debuts in activewear and outdoor clothing. 

Organdy

Organdy is a delicate, semi-transparent cotton fabric commonly used to create dresses.  

Organza

A sheer, lightweight fabric originally made from silk, organza adds visual interest to evening gowns and statement-making blouses. 

P

Piqué

Piqué is a knit or woven fabric characterized by raised dobby designs. This material is commonly used in polo shirts. 

Polyester

Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) is a synthetic, petroleum-based fabric. Because of its durability and water resistance, polyester is widely used by outdoor clothing brands.    

R

Rayon

Made from purified cellulose, rayon is a versatile fabric used in a variety of clothing—from formal evening gowns to yoga pants.    

Rib Knit

Rib knit is a knitted fabric with raised columns of stitching. This gives clothing unparalleled softness and elasticity.  

S

Satin

Satin refers to a type of weave that gives fabric a glossy front and a dull back. Because of its lustrous look and feel, satin often debuts in evening gowns and other pieces of formal wear.  

Silk

Created by the silkworm and other insects, silk is a natural fiber with an impressive softness and sheen. It’s best used for formal wear as well as ties and scarves. 

Soy

Lovingly dubbed “vegetable cashmere,” soy fabric is produced using protein derived from the hulls of soybeans. Though prone to pilling, this material neither shrinks nor wrinkles.  

Spandex

Also known as Lycra and Elastane, Spandex is a synthetic fabric incorporated into shapewear.   

Suede

Suede is a type of leather with a fuzzy, napped finish. It’s commonly used for jackets, shoes, and purses. 

Supima® Cotton

Supima® Cotton is a superior type of cotton grown in the United States. Because of the extra-long staple fiber, this cotton is incredibly soft, strong, and luxurious.  

T

Tactel

A type of fast-drying nylon, tactel often debuts in underwear and sports bras.   

Taffeta

Made from silk, taffeta is a plain-woven fabric often incorporated in formal wear. 

Toile

Toile is a type of unbleached fabric printed with rural, floral, or romantic themes. These motifs often nod to Art Nouveau, a style of art popularized in the late 1800s.

Tricot

Characterized by a unique zigzag weave, tricot is a close-fitting fabric with unbelievable stretch. Because of this, tricot is perfect for activewear.  

Tulle

Tulle is a fine mesh fabric made from man-made fibers like nylon as well as natural fibers like silk. It’s best used for bridal veils and bridal gown embellishments.   

Tweed

Usually made from wool, tweed is a hard-wearing fabric. Because of its durability, tweed is commonly used for jackets and suits. 

Twill

Twill refers to fabric woven with a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs. This material works well for jeans, trousers, and even handbags. 

V

Velour

Velour is a knitted fabric with a plush nap. Typically made from cotton or a cotton blend, velour is perfect for slippers and robes.    

Velvet

Traditionally made with silk, velvet is velour’s higher-class cousin. Expect to see this soft, luxurious fabric in evening wear, shoes, and handbags.  

Vinyl

Made from ethylene and chlorine, vinyl is a durable and waterproof fabric that works well for outerwear like raincoats. 

Viscose

A type of rayon, viscose is produced using wood pulp. This affords a similar look and feel as silk.  

Voile

A sheer cotton fabric, voile is often layered to add dimension to bridal gowns. 

W

Wool

Wool is an animal-based textile derived from sheep, goats, rabbits, and other mammals. Known for its durability and warmth, wool is incorporated into a variety of garments.   

Woven

Woven fabric refers to any fabric created by weaving two or more yarns together.