Understanding The Fabric from A-Z

17.S

-Sanforized

Patented by Cluett, Peabody and Co., Inc. the label means permanent fit – the fabric shrinkage is held to just 1 percent.

-Satin

A woven type of fabric with the characteristic of being highly lustrous on one side, and matte on the other. Can be made in a variety of fibers.

-Silicone

A rubber like polymer, which maintains its elasticity over a wide range of temperatures. Often used inside the lace top of stockings to cling to the skin and keep the stocking up without garters.

-Silk

A natural filament fiber produced by the silkworm in the construction of its cocoon. Most silk is collected from cultivated caterpillars and comes from Asia.

-Soy

Soy fabric is made from the leftover dregs from soybean oil or tofu production making it eco-friendly. Similar to natural silk, it is common for find occasional slubs which adds to its natural beauty. Its care is the same as cotton fabric.

-Spandex

A synthetic fiber made from polyurethane. It is lightweight, highly elastic, strong, durable and non-absorbent to water and oils. In Europe, they call this elastane.

-Spannette

A natural rubber latex/nylon stretch fabric with thousands of air holes for comfort and breathability.

-Supima Cotton

The name "Supima" is a licensed trademark of a group of cotton growers. It is a 100 percent American Pima cotton.

-Supplex Nylon

Supplex nylon is made by DuPont®. It is a cottony soft nylon that offers the performance benefits of a man-made fabric with the look of cotton.

18.T

-Tactel

Tactel nylon is made by DuPont. It is a silkier softer nylon with a crinkle finish. It is lightweight and quick drying.

-Tencel

Tencel is the trademark name for lyocell.

-Themastat

A synthetic fiber with a hollow core to keep you warmer and drier by wicking moisture away.

-Tricot

This word comes from the French word "tricoter" which means to knit. Tricot is a finely knit fabric that stretches in both the lengthwise and crosswise directions. It can be made from nylon, wool, rayon, silk, cotton or other fibers.

19.V

-Velour

Soft plush fabric with a close, dense pile.

-Velvet

Velvet is a woven fabric made of silk, nylon, acetate or rayon with a thick, soft pile of cut or uncut loops. A similar fabric, velveteen, is made the same way but from cotton.

-Viscose

The European term for rayon.

-Vinyl

A shiny, plastic-coated fabric typically made with a woven backing of polyester fibers that are then coated with polyvinyl chloride or a blend of PVC and polyurethane.

20.W

-Wool

Wool is a natural fiber that comes from the fleece of a sheep, goat, llama or alpaca.

-Woven

Woven fabrics are made from two pieces of yarn that are stretched out over a loom and woven together in both horizontal and vertical directions. Woven fabrics do not stretch because their fibers run at 45-degree angles to one another. Woven fabrics include linen, denim, twill, satin, chiffon, corduroy, tweed and canvas.

21.X

-X-Static Silver Fiber

X-Static silver fiber has a layer of pure silver permanently bonded to the surface of a textile fiber. It can be used in knits, wovens and non-wovens as either a filament or spun yarn. The addition of silver creates an anti-odor, anti-bacterial fiber.

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