Fabrics & materials

A crisp, smooth plain-weave fabric with a fine ribbed texture and characteristic rustle, used in eveningwear and linings; frays and shows needle holes easily.

A sew-in interfacing, traditionally a wool and hair blend, used in structured jacket construction to shape and support the chest and lapel through pad stitching.

A branded regenerated cellulose fibre (lyocell) made from sustainably sourced wood pulp using a closed-loop process, noted for softness, drape and moisture management.

A looped-pile fabric, woven or knitted, with uncut loops on one or both sides that give high absorbency; used for towelling garments and robes.

Resist-dyeing technique in which fabric is bound, twisted, or folded and secured with string or rubber bands before dye is applied, leaving undyed patterned areas beneath the bindings.

A heavier-weight decorative thread used for visible topstitching, such as on jeans, giving a bolder line than standard construction thread.

A fine, run-resistant warp-knit fabric with lengthwise ribs on the face and crosswise ribs on the back, common in lingerie and linings.

A fine, lightweight net fabric with a hexagonal mesh, used for veils, tutus and skirt volume; does not fray, so edges can be left raw.

A flat, tightly woven twill-weave tape used to stabilise seams, reinforce waistbands, and bind edges without adding bulk.

A weave structure with diagonal ribs formed by offsetting the weft float by one warp thread each row, giving fabrics like denim and gabardine extra drape and durability.

A sewing machine needle with two shafts joined to a single shank, producing two parallel rows of stitching on top and a zigzag underneath, used for hems on knits.