Did You Know? How Fabrics Are Named

Many fabrics are named for the places in which they were first produced.  If you love traveling as much as you love beautiful fabrics, this sampling of examples will prove interesting:

*Calico – A cotton printed on one side, this fabric staple was originally made in Calicut, India, in the mid-19th century.

*Cashmere – This luxurious soft wool fiber is found under the hair of goats raised in Kashmir, Tibet, and the Himalayas.

*Cretonne – This canvas-like fabric, now used extensively in home decorating, takes its name from Creton in Normandy, France.

*Damask – Characterized by a richly woven jacquard weave, this usually cotton, silk or linen fabric was originally produced in Damascus.

*Denim – This twilled serge cloth was first manufactured at de Nims, an area in southern France known several centuries ago for its extensive textile industry.

*Donegal tweed – A homespun tweed, this fabric was first woven by Donegal Irish peasants on hand looms; the term can also refer to loosely woven tweeds dyed and finished only in Donegal.

*Gauze – This sheer, transparent fabric was first woven in Gaza, Palestine, for veiling, dresses or surgical use, depending on the fiber used.

*Harris Tweed – The trademark of the Harris Tweed Association of London, this fabric takes its name from a soft tweed woven on the island of Lewis with Harris off Scotland’s northwestern coast.

*Madras – Made of a muslin or lightweight cotton, this fabric was first woven in the city of Madras, India, and features colorful yard-dyed plaids, checks or stripes.

*Paisley – Now a general term for the famous, intricate drop-like designs, the name originates from shawls made in Paisley, Scotland.