GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Blend
Any combination of staples woven together into a fabric for various benefits; commonly found in textiles of cotton and bamboo, silk or polyester.

Brocade
A heavier fabric woven with an elaborate design and a featuring rich, raised overall pattern.

Combed Cotton
Cotton that has gone through an additional manufacturing process called "combing". The combing process removes short, uneven fibers and any residual debris, leaving longer and stronger fibers. A cleaner, more uniform and lustrous yarn results.

Damask
A reversible fabric with a woven pattern visible on both sides. Often intricately detailed, damask creates a decorative pattern without printing or embroidery.

Dobby
A decorative pattern, usually of small geometric shapes or flowers, finely woven into a fabric using a special loom attachment.

Egyptian cotton
An extra-long staple cotton known for its luxurious softness, excellent absorbency and strength. Usually grown in the warm, dry climate of northern Africa.

Eyelet
An embroidery process during which detailed patterns are cut out of a fabric and finished with embellished stitching, creating a fine adornment.

Flannel
A medium weight, plain or twill-weave fabric made of cotton with a napped finish on one or both sides. This raised surface gives flannel its fluffy look and super-soft, cozy feel.

Jacquard
A elaborately woven pattern featuring a slightly raised area of fabric. The decorative pattern is produced using a jacquard loom without printing or embroidery.

Jersey
A plain fabric that is knit instead of woven, similar to a tee shirt material, providing stretch and comfort.

Linen
Fabrics woven from flax yarn that are cool, breathable and durable. One of the oldest textile yarns.

Mercerize
To treat cotton with sodium hydroxide in order to shrink the fibers, thereby increasing its luster and ability to retain dyes.

Percale
Plain-weave fabric made from both carded and combed cotton yarns. Lightweight and closely woven, percale sheets have a smooth finish and crisp feel.

Pima
A very strong cotton often grown in the warm, dry climate of the southwestern United States and a limited number of other locations. Known for its softness and natural sheen, it features medium to extra-long staple fibers.

Pintuck
A small, narrow fold created by stitching the fabric together to create the appearance of a line or stripe.

Piping
A corded accent formed with a narrow, bias cut fold; usually used as a contrasting textured finishing trim on textiles.

Ply
The number of threads wrapped together in a single thread during the weaving process of a fabric.

Sateen
A weaving technique that results in fabric with more yarn surface on the face than other basic weaves. The result is an exceptionally soft hand and smooth, lustrous finish that resembles satin.

Single-ply
Fabrics which use individual, un-plied threads on their own in the weaving process, resulting in a softer draped fabric.

Staple
The fiber of cotton, commonly used when referring to the length and fineness of the fibers collectively; categorized in terms of length, such as short-staple or long-staple cotton.

Supima®
A trademarked name for products woven from 100% American Pima cotton.

Thread count
The number of threads, both horizontal and vertical, woven into a single square inch of fabric.

Two-ply
Fabrics made of yarn plied from two threads resulting in strong, durable sheets that with a “heavier” feel

Upland cotton
The most common variety of cotton produced in the United States and known for its medium-length staples.

Weave
The process of interlacing threads into a cloth or fabric by various techniques, usually on a loom.