Quick Links
Textile Glossary
Cutting through the jargon
This glossary is a resource aimed at helping share and simplify both generic and industry specific information, expertise and knowledge. This service is provided as a committment to visitors to our site and the industry as whole. Although we aim to ensure that all the content is correct, please bear in mind that some areas of the industry move fast and terminology and its application can change.
Easy care
Refers to fabrics which are restored to their original appearance after laundering with little or no ironing. Generally such fabrics can be machine washed and tumble dried/see drip-dry.
Ecru
Descriptive of fibres, yarns, or fabrics that have not been subjected to processes affecting their natural colour.
Effect threads
Yarns inserted in a fabric that are sufficiently different in fibre, count, or construction to form or enhance a pattern.
Egyptian cotton
Cotton from Egypt characterized by its strong, fine, long and lustrous fibres.
Elastane (fibre) (generic name)
A term used to describe fibres that are composed of synthetic linear macromolecules having in the chain at least 85% (by mass) of segmented polyurethane groups and which rapidly revert substantially to their original length after extension to three times that length.
Elastic fabric
A fabric containing rubber or other elastomeric fibres or threads, having recoverable extensibility in a direction parallel to the elastomeric threads, and characterized by a high resistance to deformation and a high capacity to recover its normal size and shape.
Elastodiene (fibre) (generic name)
A term used to describe fibres composed of natural or synthetic polyisoprene, or composed of one or more dienes polymerized with or without one or more vinyl monomers, which rapidly revert substantially to their original length after extension to three times that length.
Elastomer
Any polymer having high extensibility together with rapid and substantially complete elastic recovery., note: most fibres formed from elastomers have breaking elongations in excess of one hundred percent.
Elastomeric yarn
A yarn formed from an elastomer., note 1: elastomeric yarn may either be incorporated into fabric in the bare state or wrapped with relatively inextensible fibres. Wrapping is done by covering (see covered yarn), core spinning or uptwisting., note 2: examples are elastane and elastodiene yarns.
Electrostatic flocking
The process of applying a flock to an adhesive-coated substrate in a high-voltage electrostatic field.
Elongation
See extension, note: the increase may be expressed in three ways, namely:, (i) as a length, (ii) as a percentage of the initial length, and, (iii) as a fraction of the initial length.
Elysian
A thick, heavy, usually woolen fabric with a deep nap that forms a diagonal or ripple pattern on the surface. Used for coatings.
Emboss
To produce a pattern in relief by passing fabric through a calendar in which a heated metal bowl engraved with the pattern works against a relatively soft bowl, built up of compressed paper or cotton on a metal centre.
Embossed
Fabric with a raised design that has been engraved on a metal cylinder then impressed on the fabric with heat and pressure.
Embroidered
A fabric decorated with needlework stitching of yarn or thread. May be done by hand or machine.
Emerizing
A process in which fabric is passed over a series of emery-covered rollers to produce a suede-like finish. Note: a similar process is known as sueding.
End
(1) (spinning) an individual strand,, (2) (weaving) an individual warp thread., (3) (fabric) a length of finished fabric less than a customary unit (piece) in length, (4) (finishing) , (a) each passage of a length of fabric through a machine, for example, in jig-dyeing., (b) a joint between pieces of fabric due, for example, to damage or short lengths in weaving or damage in bleaching, dyeing or finishing.
End & end
A plain weave fabric with a warp yarn of one color alternating with a warp yarn of white or a second color. Often the weft yarns alternate with the same 2 colors forming a mini check design. Used most commonly in shirtings.
End-group
A chemical group that forms the end of a polymer chain. Linear polymers possess two end-groups per molecule and branched polymers with n branch points possess n + 2 end-groups per molecule.
Enzyme washed
Refers to the process of washing with a cellulase enzyme -one which attacks the cellulose in the fabric- giving it a used, worn appearance and a desirable soft hand . The effect is similar to stone washing but is less damaging to the fabric. It is sometimes called bio-washing. Done commonly with denim or other cottons and fabrics of lyocell.
Epitropic fibre
A fibre whose surface contains partially or wholly embedded particles that modify one or more of its properties, e.g., its electrical conductivity.
Ethnic
Refers to designs with elements suggesting the culture or traditional designs of a particular group of people.
Exfoliation
An inherent fault in silk only apparent after degumming or dyeing. It is characterized by fine fibrils or fibrillae that become separated from the filament, so giving a speckled, dishevelled appearance.
Exhaustion
The proportion of dye or other substance taken up by a substrate at any stage of a process to the amount originally available.
Expression
The weight of liquid retained by textile material after mangling or hydroextraction, calculated as a percentage of the air-dry weight of the goods.
Extension
An increase in length., note: the increase may be expressed in three ways, namely:, (i) as a length, (ii) as a percentage of the initial length, and, (iii) as a fraction of the initial length.
Extract
Wool or hair recovered by the wet process of carbonization.
Extrusion
In the spinning of man-made filaments, fibre-forming substances in the plastic or molten state, or in solution, are forced through the holes of a spinneret or die at a controlled rate. There are five general methods of spinning (extruding) man-made filaments, but combinations of these methods may be used (see dispersion spinning, dry spinning, melt spinning, reaction spinning, and wet spinning).
Extrusion (fibre production)
The process of forming fibres by forcing materials through orifices.
Extrusion ratio
In man-made filament extrusion, the ratio of take-up or haul-off speed to the average speed of the spinning fluid as it leaves the spinneret.
Eyelet
A fabric decorated with cut out areas surrounded by stitching. Used for dresses, blouses, children's apparel, curtains.
Latest News
Hainsworth Partnership with Armley Mills Museum
The museum had, for a long time, been the owner of a pair of mules - which are in fact a very old ty...
News Service
Did You Know...
Harnessing expertise
Our inherent understanding of wool and its properties allowed us to develop our Hainsworth Titan® fabric which increases thermal protection and breathability, whilst reducing overall garment weight and bulk.
