If I ask you how many types of fabric in this world? You can hardly say about 10 or 12 types. But you will be amazed if I say that there are 200+ types of fabric in this world. Different types of fabric has different type of uses.
A common fabric that’s known and loved is cotton. It’s usually used to make socks, t-shirts, underwear, and many more. Cotton fabric has many advantages, such as control moisture, provides comfort, and remains hypoallergenic. Linen, silk, nylon, and wool are also popular fabrics. Some of them are new, and some of them are age-old fabrics.
Different Types of Fabric and Their Uses:
In this article we will know about 100 types of fabric and their uses-
1. Ticking fabric: Woven fabric made of cotton or linen fibres. These fibers are tightly woven and offer a timeless look. Ticking is available in two colors one is a cream or white yarn, and the other is a bold color that’s used as the main stripe. Used for pillows and mattresses. It’s also commonly used as an upholstery and a curtain fabric.
2. Tissue fabric: Woven fabric made of silk or man-made fibre. Used for women’s dress material, sarees etc.
3. Tricot knit fabric: Knitted fabric made of exclusively from filament yarn. Used for fitting comfort stretch item like swimwear, sportswear etc.
4. Velour knitted fabric: Knitted fibre made of additional set of yarn making pile loops on the fabric surface. Used for jackets, dresses etc.
5. Velvet fabric: Woven fabric made of silk, cotton, linen, wool etc. This fabric is used in making daily wearable cloth, home decor etc.
6. Voile fabric: Woven fabric made out different fibre, mainly cotton. It’s a soft, silky, and sheer and offers a great drape to different outfits. This fabric has a dull appearance and isn’t fully sheer. It is highly used for blouses and dresses. Voile is one of the most used types of fabric.
7. Warp knitted fabric: Knitted fabric made in a special knitting machine with yarns from warp beam. It widely used for mosquito netting, sportswear, inner wears (lingeries, brassieres, panties, camisoles, girdles, sleepwear, hook & eye tape), shoe fabric etc. This types of fabric are widely used.
8. Whipcord fabric: Knitted fabric made from hard twisted yarns with diagonal cord or rib. It is good for durable outdoor clothing.
9. Terry cloth: Woven fabric made with cotton or blend with synthetic fibre. It has a loop pile on one or both sides. It is generally used in making towel.
10. Terry knitted fabric: Knitted fabric made with two sets of yarn. One makes pile other makes base fabric. Applications of terry knitted fabrics are beachwear, towel, bathrobes etc.
11. Tartan fabric: Woven fabric. It was originally made from woven wool but now they are made from many materials. It is suitable for wearable cloth and other fashion items.
12. Sateen fabric: Woven fabric made with spun yarns. It is used for clothing and decorative purpose.
13. Shantung fabric: Woven fabric made of silk or fibre similar to silk. This fabric is crisp, thin, and shiny, making it more lustrous than most fabrics. The beauty of this fabric is the fact that no two pieces are similar. Its elegance allows it to have a crisp and light drape when hung. Uses are bridal gowns, dresses, etc.
14. Sheeting fabric: Woven fabric which can be made of 100% cotton or blend of polyester and cotton. It is primarily used for bed covering.
15. Silver knit fabric: It is a knitted fabric. It made of special circular knitting machines. Widely use for making jackets and coats.
16. Taffeta fabric: Woven fabric. It is manufactured from different type of fibre such as rayon, nylon or silk. Taffeta is widely used to manufacture women’s garments.
17. Stretch fabric: Speciality fabric. It is a normal fabric which starches in all four directions. It came in mainstream in 1990s and widely used in making sportswear.
18. Rib stitch knit fabric: Knitted fabric usually made of cotton, wool, cotton blend or Acrylic. Made for ribbing found in lower edges of sweater, at necklines, on sleeve cuffs etc.
19. Raschel knit fabric: Knitting fabric made of filament or spun yarns of different weights and types. It used as unlined material of coats, jackets, dresses etc.
20. Quilted fabric: Woven fabric. It can be blend of wool, cotton, polyester, silk many more. It is used to make bags, clothing, mattresses etc.
21. Purl knit fabric: Knitted fabric made by knitting yarn as alternative knit while purling stitch in one wale of the fabric. It is used to make bulky sweaters and children clothing.
22. Poplin fabric: Woven fabric used for jackets, shirt, raincoat etc. it is made by polyester, cotton and its blend. As coarse weft yarns are used its ribs are heavy and prominent. It is also most frequently used types of fabric.
23. Pointelle knit fabric: Knitted fabric. It is a type of double fabric. This kind of fabric are suitable for women tops and kids wear.
24. Plain fabric: Specialty fabric. It is made of warp and weft yarns in a pattern of over one and under one. This kind of fabric are popular for leisure wear.
25. Percale fabric: Woven fabric often used for bed covers. It is made from both carded and combed yarns.
26. Oxford fabric: Woven fabric made with loosely constructed weaves. It is one of the most popular fabric for shirt.
27. Filter fabric: Specialty fabric known for functionality and longevity. It has high temperature and chemical resistance.
28. Flannel fabric: Woven fabric extremely popular for suiting shirting, jacket, pajama etc. It is often made of wool, cotton or synthetic fibre etc.
29. Jersey knit fabric: Knitted fabric originally made of wool but now it is made by wool, cotton and synthetic fibre. The fabric usually used for making variety of cloth and household items such as sweatshirts, bed sheets etc.
30. Fleece knit fabric: Knitted fabric made of 100% cotton or blend of cotton with percentage of polyester,wool etc. end uses are jacket, dresses, sportswear and sweaters.
31. Foulard fabric: Woven fabric originally made from silk or mix of silk and cotton. This fabric is printed in various way and use as dress material, handkerchiefs, scarves etc.
32. Fustian fabric: Woven fabric made with linen warp and cotton wefts or fillings. Usually used for menswear.
33. Gabardine fabric: Woven fabric. Gabardine is made from twill woven worsted or cotton fabric. Since it is a durable fabric it is widely used for making pants, shirting and suiting.
34. Gauze fabric: Woven fabric. It is usually made from cotton, rayon or their blends of soft texture spun yarns. It is used in apparel, home furnishing and in medical uses for bandages.
35. Georgette fabric: Woven fabric usually made of silk or polyester. It is used for blouses, dresses, evening gowns, saris and trimming.
36. Gingham fabric: Woven fabric. It is made from dyed cotton or cotton blend yarns. It is used for button down shirts, dresses and tablecloths.
37. Grey or greige fabric: Woven fabric. When no finish applied to textile they are known as grey fabric or unfinished fabric.
38. Industrial fabric: Woven fabric often made from man-made fibre like fiberglass, carbon, and aramid fiber. Primarily used for filtration, recreational production, insulation, electronics etc.
39. Intarsia knit fabric: Knitted fabric made from knitting multi-coloured yarns. It is typically used for making blouses, shirts and sweaters.
40. Interlock stitch knit fabric: Knitting fabric used in all sorts of elastic garments. It also used to produce t-shirt, polos, dresses etc. This fabric is heavier and thicker than regular rib knit fabric if finer yarns are not used.
41. Jacquard knit fabric: Knitted fabric. It is a single jersey fabric made of circular knitting machines using jacquard mechanism. They are widely used in sweater industry.
42. Kashmir silk fabric: Woven fabric produced in plain weave and is either embroidered or printed. It is used for shirts, women’s wear, sarees etc.
43. Khadi fabric: Woven fabric mainly produced in one cotton fibre, blends of two or more fibre. This fabric is suitable for dhoties and household textiles.
44. Khaki fabric: Woven fabric made with cotton, wool, or its blend. There are two types of khaki, including on with elastic and the other without elastic. Often used for police or military uniforms. It is also used for home decoration, jackets, skirts, etc. The khaki fabric is comfortable, rich in color, and retains the color over time.
45. Lame fabric: Woven/knitted fabric. It is often used for party wear, theatrical or dance costumes. This fabric has thin ribbons of metallic fibres frapped around the primary yarn.
46. Laminated fabric: Specialty fabric consists two or more layer constructed with a polymer film bonded to another fabric. It is used for rainwear, automotive etc.
47. Lawn fabric: Woven fabric originally made from flax/linen but now made from cotton. It is used for infant wear, handkerchiefs, dresses, aprons etc.
48. Leno fabric: Woven fabric used for producing bag, firewood bag, curtains and drapery, mosquito netting, clothing etc.
49. Linsey woolsey fabric: Woven fabric coarse twill or pain woven fabric woven with a linen warp and a woollen weft. Many sources say it was used for whole cloth quilts.
50. Madras fabric: Woven fabric. Cotton madras is woven from fragile, short staple cotton fibre that can only carded. As it is lightweight cotton fabric it is used for clothing such as pants, shorts, dresses etc.
51. Mousseline fabric: Woven fabric made of silk, wool, cotton. This fabric is popular for fashionable as dress and shawl fabric.
52. Muslin fabric: Woven fabric. Early muslin was handwoven of uncommonly delicate hand spun yarn. It was used for dress making, shellac polishing, filter etc.
53. Narrow fabric: Specialty fabric. This fabric is available mainly in laces and tapes form. They are thicker version of the fabric. Narrow fabric is used for wrapping, decorating etc.
54. Organdy fabric: Woven fabric made with fine spun combed yarn. Stiff varieties are for home furnishing and softer organdy are for summer wear like blouses, sarees etc.
55. Organza fabric: Woven fabric. It is a thin, plain wave traditionally made from silk. Many modern organzas are woven with synthetic filament such as polyester or nylon. Most popular item is bag.
56. Aertex fabric: Woven fabric light weight and loosely woven cotton used for making shirts and underwear.
57. Aida cloth fabric: Woven fabric. It is a cotton fabric with natural mesh pattern generally used for cross-stich embroidery.
58. Baize fabric: Woven fabric made from wool and cotton blends. It is a perfect fabric for the surface of pool tables, snooker tables etc.
59. Batiste fabric: Woven fabric made from cotton, wool, linen, polyester or a blend. Majorly used for christening grown, nightgowns and underlining for wedding gown.
60. Bird’s eye knit fabric: Knitted fabric. It is a double-knit fabric with a combination of tuck stitches and knitting stitches. They are popular as clothing fabric especially women’s wear.
61. Bombazine fabric: Woven fabric made of silk, silk-wool and today it is made of cotton and wool or wool alone. It is used as dress materials.
62. Brocade fabric: Woven fabric. It is often made in coloured silks with or without gold and silver threads. It is often used for upholstery and draperies. They are used for evening and formal clothing.
63. Buckram fabric: Woven fabric. A stiff coated fabric made of lightweight loosely woven fabric. It is used as an interface support for the necklines, collars, belts etc.
64. Cable knit fabric: Knitted fabric. It is a double-knit fabric made by the special loop transfer technique. It is used as sweater fabric
65. Calico fabric: Woven fabric made by 100% cotton fibre. Most popular use of this fabric is for designer toiles.
66. Cambric fabric: Woven fabric. This fabric is ideal for handkerchief, slips, underwear etc.
67. Chenille fabric: Woven fabric. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton but also made using acrylic, rayon and olefin. It is used for upholstery, cushions, curtains.
68. Corduroy fabric: Woven fabric made from textile fibres with one warp and two fillings. It is used for making shirts, jackets etc.
69. Casement fabric: Woven fabric made of closely packed thick warp yarns. Generally used for table linen, upholstery.
70. Cheese cloth: Woven fabric made of cotton. Primary use of cheese cloth is food preservation.
71. Cheviot fabric: It is a woven fabric. Originally made from the wool of cheviot sheep but it is also made from other type of wool or blends of wool and man-made fibres in plain or different type of weave. Cheviot fabric is used in men’s suits, and ladies’ suits and lightweight coats. It is also used as stylish upholstery or luxurious curtains and suited to both modern or more traditional interiors.
72. Chiffon fabric: Woven fabric made from silk, synthetic, polyester, rayon, cotton etc. it is suitable for bridal gown, evening dresses, scarves etc.
73. Chino fabric: Woven fabric made from cotton. It is generally used for trousers and military uniform.
74. Chintz fabric: Woven fabric often made from blend of cotton and polyester or rayon. Used for skits, dresses, pyjamas, aprons etc.
75. Crepe fabric: Woven fabric made of very high twist yarn either in one or both direction warps. It is used for making dresses, lining, home furnishing etc.
76. Crewel fabric: Specialty fabric used for curtains, bed-heads, cushions, light upholstery, bed covers etc.
77. Damask fabric: Woven fabric. It is a heavyweight, rough woven fabric. It is a reversible figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton etc. It is usually used for mid to high quality garments.
78. Denim fabric: Woven fabric used for making clothing like dresses, hats, boots, shirts, jackets. Also accessories like belts, wallets, handbags, seat cover etc. Denim is one of the most important types of fabric among the young generation.
79. Dimity fabric: Woven fabric. It was originally made of silk or wool but since 18th century has been woven of cotton. It is often used for summer dresses, aprons, baby clothing etc.
80. Drill fabric: Woven fabric made from cotton fibres, generally known as khaki. It is used for uniforms, workwear, tents etc.
81. Double knit fabric: Knitted fabric made form interlock stitches and variations. Wool and polyester are mainly used for double knit. It is often used for elaborating two colour designs.
82. Duck or canvas fabric: Woven fabric made of cotton, linen or synthetic. Used for motor hoods, belting, packaging, sneakers etc.
83. Felt fabric: Specialty fabric. Natural fibres are pressed and condensed together with heat and pressure to make it. It is used in many countries as a material of clothing, footwear etc.
84. Fibreglass fabric: Specialty fabric. It generally consists extremely fine glass fibres. It is used for fabric, yarns, insulators and structural object.
85. Cashmere fabric: Woven or knitted fabric. It is a type of wool made from cashmere goat. Used for making sweater, scarf, blanket etc.
86. Leather fabric: Leather is any fabric made from animal hides or skin. It is used for making jackets, boots, belt etc.
87. Viscose fabric: It is a semi synthetic type rayon fabric. It is a versatile fabric for clothing like blouses, dresses, jacket etc.
88. Rep fabric: Usually made of silk, wool or cotton and used for dresses, neckties.
89. Ottoman fabric: It is made of silk or a mixture of cotton and other silk like yarn. It is used for formal dress and academic dresses.
90. Eolienne fabric: It is a lightweight fabric with a ribbed surface. It is made by combining silk and cotton or silk worsted warp and weft. It is similar to poplin but even lighter weight.
91. Barathea fabric: It is a soft fabric. It uses various combinations of wool, silk and cotton. It is suitable for dress coats, dinner jacket, military uniforms etc
92. Bengaline fabric: It is a woven silk and cotton material. This fabric great for fitting pants, skirts and dresses etc.
93. Hessian fabric: Woven fabric made from skin of the jute plant or sisal fibres. It may be combined with other vegetable fibre to make nets, rope etc.
94. Camlet fabric: Woven fabric originally might made from camel or goat’s hair. But later from chiefly of goat’s hair and silk or from wool and cotton.
95. Chiengora fabric: It is a yarn or wool spun from dog hair and it is 80% warmer than wool. It used for making scarves, wraps, blankets etc.
96. Cotton duck: It is a heavy, pain woven cotton fabric. Duck canvas is tighter woven than pain canvas. It is used for sneakers, painting canvas, tents, sandbag etc.
97. Dazzle fabric: It is a type of polyester fabric. It is lightweight and allow more air to circulate around body. It is more used for making football uniform, basketball uniform etc.
98. Gannex fabric: It is a waterproof fabric whose outer layer is made from nylon and inner layer is made of wool.
99. Habotai: It is one of the most basic plain weaves of silk fabric. Though it is normally lining silk it can be used for making t-shirts, lamp shades, and summer blouses.
100. Polar fleece fabric: It is a soft napped insulating fabric. It is made from polyester. It is used in making jackets, hats, sweaters, gym cloth etc.
Conclusion:
Different types of fabric does different job. Some of them are good for clothing and some may be good for home furnishing. Some of the fabric types developed over the year but some of them vanished like muslin. But one common thing is that every fabric has its own story to tell us.
References:
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/28-types-of-fabrics-and-their-uses
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fabrics
- https://www.textileschool.com/171/textile-fabric-types-comprehensive-list-of-textile-fabrics
- https://dressfabrics.ie/product-category/bengaline/
- http://www.chiengorafibers.com/how_it_works
Author of this Article:
Md. Sadman Nafe
B.Sc. in Textile Engineering
Textile Engineering College, Noakhali.
Email: nafe2290@gmail.com