Fabric Definitions — definitions of fabrics, cloths, laces and textile materials from Apparel Search
Corduroy takes its basis from cord: twisted fibers woven to lie parallel to one another, similar to twill, forming the corduroy pattern. Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes with a channel bare to the base fabric between the tufts. It is considered a durable cloth; clothes made from it are casual and usually favored in colder climates and seasons.
Corduroy is a word that can be used as a noun, a transitive verb or an adjective. The basis for the word is "cord" which is a reference to twisted fibers that when woven lay parallel (similar to twill) to one and other form the corduroy pattern. Modern Corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel (bare to the to base fabric) between the tufts.
As a
fabric,
corduroy is considered a durable cloth.
Socially, the clothes made from corduroy
are considered casual, and are usually favored
in colder climates during seasonal periods.
Corduroy is most commonly found in the construction
of pants or trousers. The material is also
used in the construction of (sport) jackets
and shirts. The width of the cord is commonly
referred to as
wale; the size of the wale. The width of
the wale makes some uses more common than
others. Wide wale is more commonly found
on pants; medium, narrow and fine wale fabrics
are usually found in garments used above
the waist.
The following definition of Corduroy is not relevant to the fashion or clothing industry. However, we will list it here just in case you are interested...
Corduroy road
is a type of road made by placing logs
perpendicular to the direction of the road
over a low or swampy area. The result is
an improvement over impassable mud on dirt
roads, yet is a bumpy ride in the best of
conditions and a hazard to horses due to
loose logs that can roll and shift. (Compare
plank road, which uses hewn boards instead
of logs, resulting in a smoother and safer
surface.)
In a slang application, Corduroy Road can also apply to a road in ill repair, having many holes, discernible ruts, or surface swellings and one on which travel is unpleasant, or capable of harming the vehicle on which it is travelling.
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Reading Corduroy by Its WalesWale count is corduroy's specification language. It is given as cords per inch: a wide-wale trouser corduroy may run around 4 to 8 wales, a standard trousering about 11, and pinwale or needlecord 16 to 21. The number predicts the garment before it is seen — low counts give bold, rustic ribs and the most casual effect; high counts give a surface closer to velveteen, smooth enough for shirts and children's wear. Fiber follows use: cotton corduroy is the standard for trousers and jackets, cotton blends add resilience, and the pile direction matters in cutting, since corduroy shades differently with the pile running up or down — garments are cut with all pieces running the same way, the way a tailor cuts velvet. Care of a Cut-Pile ClothCorduroy's tufts are its strength and its maintenance point. The pile crushes under sustained pressure and picks up lint in the channels, so corduroy is brushed with the pile, washed inside out, and stored hung rather than folded under weight; a steamer lifts crushed pile better than a hard press, which can flatten the cords permanently. Worn corduroy thins first where the tufts abrade — seat, knees, elbows — while the ground weave beneath remains sound, which is why an old pair of cords fades in pattern rather than tearing. None of this makes the fabric delicate: it remains, as its reputation says, a durable cloth. It simply asks that its raised surface, the feature that makes it corduroy, be treated as a surface and not as flat cloth. Common QuestionsWhat is wale in corduroy?The width of the cord. Wide wale — few, broad cords per inch — is most commonly found on pants and trousers. Medium, narrow and fine wales, down to needlecord with many fine ribs per inch, are usually found in garments worn above the waist: shirts, jackets and dresses. How is corduroy's pile made?Extra weft threads are woven in floats over the ground cloth and then cut, so the cut ends stand up as short tufts in parallel rows — the cords. Between the tufted rows a channel may remain bare to the base fabric. The result is a ribbed pile surface quite different from a flat ribbed weave. Is corduroy a formal fabric?No. Socially, clothes made from corduroy are considered casual, and the fabric is favored in colder climates and seasonal periods for its warmth. It is most commonly found in trousers, and also in sport jackets and shirts — country and casual wear rather than formal dress. More to ExploreMore from Apparel Search: Fabric Definitions | Clothing Industry Glossary | Fashion Terms | Apparel Search Home
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