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The Clothwala Fabric Guide

Know your fabric before you buy it.

Every major fabric from India and the world: what it is, what it is made from, what to make with it, and exactly how to wash and care for it. Written by a family that has worked with fabric since 1967, for anyone who buys, sells, sews or wears it.

75fabrics explained
7fibre families
23care symbols decoded
49trade terms in plain words
Fabric in 60 seconds

Every fabric is four decisions.

Once you know these four, you can read any fabric label, compare any two quotes and talk to any supplier with confidence.

01

Fibre

The raw material: cotton, silk, wool, wood pulp or polyester. It decides breathability, warmth, shine and how the fabric washes.

02

Yarn

Fibres are twisted into yarn. Fine or thick (count, denier), tight or loose twist, filament or spun. Twist is what makes crepe crinkle.

03

Construction

Yarn is woven (warp and weft, firm) or knitted (loops, stretchy). The weave decides drape, texture, sheen and strength.

04

Finish

Dyeing, printing and finishing: digital print, softener, pre-shrinking, peach touch. Finishing changes the hand, colour and care.

Fibre families

Where fabric comes from.

Every fabric belongs to a family. The family tells you most of what you need to know about comfort, care and cost.

Natural - plant

Grown in a field: cotton, flax, hemp. Cool, absorbent, honest.

18 fabrics
Natural - animal

Silk from cocoons, wool and pashmina from animals. Warm, rich, delicate.

8 fabrics
Regenerated

Wood pulp or cotton waste turned into fibre: viscose, modal, Tencel. Soft and drapey.

7 fabrics
Synthetic

Made from oil-based polymers: polyester, nylon, spandex. Strong, easy-care, print-sharp.

16 fabrics
Knits

Looped, not woven, so they stretch: jersey, rib, pique, terry.

7 fabrics
Indian heritage

Handloom and craft textiles with centuries of history and GI tags.

10 fabrics
Speciality weaves

Jacquard, velvet, lace, suiting: structure and surface that change how a garment looks.

9 fabrics

Why some fabrics feel cool and others feel hot

It is mostly about moisture regain: how much water a fibre can hold from the air. Fibres that absorb sweat pull it off your skin and feel cool. Polyester holds almost none, so sweat stays on you. This is why a cotton kurti is cooler than a polyester one of the same weight, and why open weaves like georgette help polyester breathe.

These are standard textbook values at 21°C and 65% humidity.

Wool16%
Viscose13%
Linen12%
Lyocell11.5%
Silk11%
Cotton8.5%
Nylon4.5%
Acrylic1.5%
Polyester0.4%
Weave school

Same yarn, different weave, different fabric.

Warp yarns run along the length, weft yarns run across. How they cross decides how the fabric looks, feels, drapes and wears. Watch each weave being built.

Plain weave

Each weft yarn goes over one warp yarn, then under the next. The simplest and tightest interlacing.

Look and feel: Firm, flat, same on both sides, crisp or soft depending on yarn.

Examples: Poplin, cambric, mulmul, voile, chiffon, georgette, organza, khadi

Strong and stable, but frays and creases more than twill.

Twill weave

Weft goes over two or more warps and the start point shifts by one each row, creating diagonal lines.

Look and feel: Diagonal ridges, softer drape, hides dirt, very durable.

Examples: Denim, drill, chino, gabardine, tweed, serge

Look for the diagonal direction; a steeper twill (gabardine) is tighter and more formal.

Satin weave

Yarns float over four or more yarns before interlacing once, so the face is almost all one set of yarns.

Look and feel: Glossy, smooth, fluid face with a dull back.

Examples: Satin, charmeuse, duchess, sateen (cotton)

Long floats look beautiful but snag. Avoid rough embellishment on satin.

Basket weave

Two or more yarns travel together, over two and under two, like a woven basket.

Look and feel: Soft, textured, slightly loose and breathable.

Examples: Oxford shirting, matka, hopsack, panama

Looser weaves can shift at seams; ask for a seam slippage test.

Dobby weave

A dobby attachment on the loom raises small groups of warp yarns to weave small geometric repeats.

Look and feel: Small dots, diamonds and textures woven in.

Examples: Dobby cottons, textured shirting, poly dobby

Texture without print: good for solid-colour collections.

Jacquard weave

A jacquard machine controls every warp yarn on its own, so any picture can be woven.

Look and feel: Large woven motifs, brocades, damasks.

Examples: Banarasi brocade, damask, jacquard suiting, tapestry

Pattern is woven in, so it never fades or cracks like a print. Costs more and needs higher MOQ.

Knit (jersey)

One continuous yarn is looped through the row below, like hand knitting. No warp and weft.

Look and feel: Stretchy, soft, wrinkle-resistant, edges curl.

Examples: Single jersey, rib, interlock, pique, fleece

Knits are often sold by kg, not metre. Use the calculator below to convert.

Pile weave

An extra set of yarns forms loops or cut tufts that stand up from the base cloth.

Look and feel: Plush, rich, light-catching, with a nap direction.

Examples: Velvet, corduroy, terry towel, faux fur

Cut every panel in the same direction or colours will look different.

GSM and weight

What GSM really means.

GSM is grams per square metre: the weight of the fabric. Move the slider to see how weight changes the feel, what to make, and which fabrics live at that weight.

120GSM
Light-medium
20 sheer150300500 heavy

Metres and kilos calculator

Knits and many Surat fabrics are sold by kg. Enter GSM and width to convert.

-metres in 1 kg
-kg for your metres

Handy: 1 oz per square yard = 33.9 GSM. 1 momme (silk) = 4.3 GSM. 44 inch = 112 cm, 58 inch = 147 cm.

Fabrics around 120 GSM

How to measure it yourself: cut a 100 cm² circle with a GSM cutter, weigh it in grams and multiply by 100. For a 10 x 10 cm square, multiply the weight by 100 too.

Fabric finder

What are you making?

Pick a garment and we will show the fabrics that work for it. Tap any fabric to open its full guide.

Choose a garment above.

The fabric encyclopedia

75 fabrics, explained properly.

Including fabrics we do not make, because a good decision needs the full picture. Open any card for what it is, how it feels, what to make, how to wash it and what to check before buying. Tick "Compare" on two or three to see them side by side.

Printing and dyeing

Which print method suits which fabric.

The fibre decides the print method, and the method decides colour, feel, minimum order and cost. This is the table merchandisers wish every buyer knew.

MethodWorks onResultMinimum runWatch out
Digital sublimationPolyester and poly blends (65%+ polyester)Brightest, sharpest colours; print becomes part of the fibre; no feelLow, from a few metresDoes not work on cotton or viscose; light colours only as the base.
Digital reactiveCotton, viscose, linen, modal, silkSoft, natural colours that do not change handfeelLowNeeds steaming and washing after print; slower than sublimation.
Digital acidSilk, wool, nylonRich, vivid colours on protein fibresLowHigher cost; used for silk sarees and scarves.
Digital pigmentAlmost any fibreGood colours, slightly stiffer feelLowRub fastness can be lower on dark shades.
Rotary screenMost fabricsBold, solid colours at very low cost per metreHigh (usually thousands of metres)Each colour needs a screen, so limited colours and high setup cost.
Block printingCotton, silk, linenHandmade charm with small variationsLow to mediumSlower; ideal for heritage and craft collections.
Discharge printingDyed cotton or viscoseBright print on dark base; soft handMediumNeeds the right dyes; some chemicals.
DTF / heat transferCotton, poly, blends (garments)Placement graphics, logos, small runsVery lowSits on the surface; can crack if stretched.

Want to see digital and rotary side by side, and what each costs per metre? Read our bulk and custom order guide →

Care label decoder

What the symbols on your label mean.

Five shapes cover everything: the tub (washing), triangle (bleach), square (drying), iron (ironing) and circle (professional cleaning). Dots mean heat: more dots, more heat. A cross means never.

Washing

Machine wash, max 30°C

Machine wash, max 40°C

Machine wash, max 60°C

Gentle cycle (one bar), very gentle (two bars)

Hand wash only, max 40°C

Do not wash

Bleaching

Any bleach allowed

Only oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach

Do not bleach

Drying

Tumble dry, low heat (one dot)

Do not tumble dry

Line dry

Drip dry, hang wet

Dry flat

Dry in the shade

Ironing

Iron cool, max 110°C (nylon, acetate, elastane)

Iron warm, max 150°C (silk, wool, polyester, viscose)

Iron hot, max 200°C (cotton, linen)

Do not iron

Professional care

Dry clean with any common solvent (P)

Dry clean, petroleum solvent only (F)

Professional wet clean (W)

Do not dry clean

Washing by fibre: the quick table

FibreWaterDetergentDryIronNever
Cotton30-40°CNormal detergentLine dry in shadeHot (3 dots)Hot tumble drying
Linen30-40°C gentleLiquid detergentLine dry, take off dampHot, while dampWringing
SilkCold hand wash or dry cleanpH-neutral silk washRoll in towel, dry flatLow, reverse, clothWringing, sun, perfume
Wool and pashminaCold hand wash or dry cleanWool washDry flatSteam through clothHot water, rubbing, hanging wet
Viscose and rayon30°C gentleMild liquid detergentHang in shadeMedium, reverseWringing (weak when wet)
Modal, Tencel, bamboo30-40°C gentleMild detergentLine or low tumbleMediumHigh heat
Polyester and crepes30-40°CNormal detergentLine dryWarm, reverseHot iron (melts)
Georgette, chiffon, netCold, mesh bagMild detergentDrip dry on hangerLow with clothMachine spin on high
Stretch (lycra)Cold to 30°CMild, no softenerDry flatCool or noneBleach, tumble heat
VelvetDry clean-HangSteam only, never pressIroning the pile
Zari, brocade, handloomDry clean-Air on hangerLow, reverse, clothWater, plastic storage
Craft prints (ajrakh, kalamkari)Cold, first wash in salt waterMild detergentInside out, shadeMedium, reverseSun drying, bleach
Buyer's tests

Nine checks before you place a bulk order.

Each one takes minutes, needs no lab, and can save a whole production run. Do them on your sample, then again on the first roll of bulk.

1

Weigh it (GSM)

Cut a 100 cm² circle with a GSM cutter and weigh it. Grams x 100 = GSM. No cutter? Weigh a 10 x 10 cm square.

Pass: Same GSM as the sample you approved. A 5-8% drop is a common way suppliers cut cost.

2

Shrinkage test

Mark a 50 x 50 cm square with a pen, wash and dry it as the care label says, then measure again.

Pass: Under 3% is good. More than that? Ask for pre-shrunk fabric or add allowance to patterns.

3

Rub test (crocking)

Rub a dry white cotton cloth 10 times on the fabric. Repeat with a damp white cloth.

Pass: Little or no colour on the white cloth. Dark shades on damp rub are the usual failure.

4

Bleed test

Soak a swatch with a white cloth in warm soapy water for 30 minutes.

Pass: The water and the white cloth should stay clean.

5

Light test

Hold the fabric against a window or phone torch.

Pass: Decide now if the garment needs a lining, not after cutting 500 pieces.

6

Stretch and recovery

Mark 10 cm, stretch it fully for 10 seconds, release and measure after one minute.

Pass: It should come back close to 10 cm. Baggy recovery means bagging knees and elbows.

7

Seam slippage

Sew a seam, then pull firmly across it.

Pass: No holes or yarns sliding apart at the seam. Slippery fabrics need wider seams.

8

Pilling check

Rub the fabric face against itself or a rough cloth for 30 seconds.

Pass: No fuzz balls. Pilling fabric looks old after a few washes.

9

Shade check

Compare bulk and approved sample in daylight and under shop light. Keep a cut of the approved sample as a reference.

Pass: Colours should match in both lights. Different dye lots can vary, so ask for one lot per order.

Problems and fixes

Why fabric goes wrong, and how to stop it.

Shrinkage

Why it happens: Fibres relax and swell in water and heat, especially cotton, linen and viscose.

Prevent it: Buy pre-shrunk or sanforised fabric; wash cold; dry in shade; never tumble on high.

Fix it: Light shrinkage can sometimes be eased back by stretching gently while damp and pressing.

Pilling

Why it happens: Short fibres work loose with friction and roll into balls. Common in blends, acrylic and spun polyester.

Prevent it: Choose filament yarns or anti-pill finishes; wash inside out; avoid rough bags.

Fix it: Use a fabric shaver or lint roller.

Colour bleeding

Why it happens: Excess dye that was not washed off at the mill, or dyes that are weak in water.

Prevent it: Wash darks separately; first wash in cold water; ask for colour fastness ratings (4 or above).

Fix it: Rewash quickly in cold water with a colour-catcher sheet before the colour sets.

Seam slippage

Why it happens: Yarns slide apart along a seam on slippery or loose fabrics like satin and georgette.

Prevent it: Use wider seam allowances, French seams or fusing tape; test before bulk.

Fix it: Restitch with a larger seam and add fusing.

Puckering

Why it happens: Thread tension, mismatched thread or fabric shrinking differently from the thread.

Prevent it: Use the right needle and thread, test on scraps, pre-shrink fabric.

Fix it: Unpick and resew; steam lightly.

Shine marks

Why it happens: A hot iron flattens or melts fibres, mostly polyester, viscose and dark wools.

Prevent it: Iron on the reverse with a pressing cloth at the right temperature.

Fix it: Steam the area and brush lightly; melted marks are permanent.

Static cling

Why it happens: Synthetic fibres hold electric charge in dry weather.

Prevent it: Mix with natural fibres; use linings like cupro; a little fabric softener.

Fix it: Run a metal hanger over the garment or lightly mist with water.

Yellowing

Why it happens: Old sweat, deodorant, sunlight or storage in plastic, mostly on whites, silk and polyester.

Prevent it: Wash before storing; store in cotton cloth away from light.

Fix it: Soak in oxygen bleach (not on silk or wool).

Print cracking

Why it happens: Pigment or plastisol prints stretched too much or ironed directly.

Prevent it: Choose reactive or sublimation prints for stretch fabrics; iron on the reverse.

Fix it: Cannot be repaired; prevent it.

Mildew

Why it happens: Fabric stored damp or in humid rooms.

Prevent it: Dry fully before storing; use breathable bags; silica gel in monsoon.

Fix it: Wash fresh mildew in hot water with vinegar where safe for the fibre.

Moth and insect holes

Why it happens: Wool, silk and pashmina are protein fibres that larvae eat.

Prevent it: Store clean; use neem leaves, cedar or lavender; air them often.

Fix it: Small holes can be darned by a professional.

Shade difference between lots

Why it happens: Each dyeing batch varies slightly.

Prevent it: Order one lot per style; keep a cut of the approved sample; ask for lot numbers.

Fix it: Cut each garment from one lot; never mix panels.

Fibre detective

The burn test: find out what a fabric really is.

Labels can be wrong, and "silk", "linen" and "pashmina" are often polyester or viscose. Burn a few threads and watch, smell and touch what is left.

FibreHow it burnsSmellWhat is left
Cotton, linen, viscoseBurns fast with a steady yellow flameBurning paperSoft grey ash that crumbles
SilkBurns slowly, curls away from flame, may self-extinguishBurning hairCrushable black bead
WoolBurns slowly and sizzles, self-extinguishesStrong burning hairBrittle black ash, crushable
PolyesterMelts and shrinks from flame, black smokeSweet chemical smellHard black bead, cannot crush
NylonMelts and drips, burns slowlyLike celeryHard cream or grey bead
AcrylicFlares, burns and melts quicklySharp acrid smellHard, irregular black bead

Safety first: use only a few threads or a tiny snippet, hold it with tweezers over a sink or steel plate, keep water close, and keep children away. Blends show mixed results: a fabric that leaves both ash and a hard bead is a blend.

Glossary

Trade words, in plain English.

From than and panna to strike-off and spirality: the words suppliers use, explained.

Bias
The 45 degree diagonal of a woven fabric. Cutting on the bias gives stretch and drape.
Blend
A fabric with two or more fibres, like poly-cotton or poly-viscose, to combine their best qualities.
Bio-wash
An enzyme wash that removes surface fuzz, making cotton softer and less prone to pilling.
Calendering
Pressing fabric between heated rollers to make it smooth and shiny.
Colour fastness
How well a colour resists washing, rubbing, light and sweat. Rated 1-5; 4 or above is good.
Count (Ne)
The fineness of cotton yarn. 40s is finer than 20s; a higher count means finer, smoother fabric.
Crocking
Colour rubbing off onto other fabric or skin.
Cut piece
A short, leftover length sold cheaply. Fine for samples, not for repeat orders.
Denier
The weight in grams of 9,000 m of a filament yarn. Lower denier means finer yarn.
Digital print
Inkjet printing of designs straight from a file, with unlimited colours and no screens.
Discharge print
Bleaching colour out of dyed fabric in a pattern, then adding new colour.
Devore (burnout)
A chemical prints away one fibre in a blend, leaving a sheer pattern.
Drape
How a fabric falls and hangs.
Dye lot
One batch of dyed fabric. Shades can vary between lots.
Elastane
Stretch fibre (spandex, Lycra) added at 2-20% for stretch.
EPI and PPI
Ends per inch (warp) and picks per inch (weft). Together they show weave density.
Filament vs spun
Filament yarn is one long continuous strand (smooth, shiny); spun yarn is short fibres twisted (soft, matt).
GI tag
Geographical Indication: legal protection that a product is from a specific region, like Banarasi or Muga.
Greige or kora
Unfinished fabric straight from the loom, before bleaching, dyeing or printing.
GSM
Grams per square metre: the weight of the fabric.
Hand-feel
How the fabric feels to the touch: soft, crisp, dry, slippery.
Lab dip
A small dyed swatch sent for colour approval before bulk dyeing.
Lot
A batch of fabric from one production run.
Lurex
Metallic yarn woven or knitted into fabric for shimmer.
Mercerised
Cotton treated with caustic soda to make it stronger, shinier and better at taking dye.
MOQ
Minimum order quantity a supplier will produce per design or colour.
Momme (mm)
The weight measure for silk. 1 momme is about 4.3 GSM.
Panna
Hindi trade word for fabric width, for example 44 inch or 58 inch panna.
Peach finish
A light sanding that gives fabric a soft, peach-skin touch.
Piece-dyed
Fabric dyed after weaving.
Pilling
Small fuzz balls formed by friction.
Placement print
A print designed for a specific position on a garment, like a border or yoke.
Reactive dye
Dye that bonds chemically with cotton, viscose or linen for bright, fast colour.
Repeat
The size of one pattern unit before it repeats.
RFD
Ready For Dyeing: fabric prepared and cleaned so it can be dyed to custom shades.
Sanforised
Pre-shrunk by a mechanical process so it shrinks under 1-2% when washed.
Selvedge
The finished edge of a woven fabric that stops it fraying.
Shade card
A card of fabric swatches showing available colours.
Silk Mark
A quality label from the Silk Mark Organisation of India certifying pure silk.
Slub
A thick, irregular spot in yarn that gives texture, as in linen or raw silk.
Spirality
Twisting of knitted fabric after washing, making side seams move to the front.
Strike-off
A print sample on the actual fabric for approval before bulk printing.
Sublimation
Printing where dye turns to gas and enters polyester fibres. Bright, permanent, polyester only.
Than
Hindi trade word for a full roll or bolt of fabric.
Warp
The lengthwise yarns, held tight on the loom.
Weft
The crosswise yarns that weave over and under the warp.
Width
Fabric width, usually 44 inch (112 cm) or 58-60 inch (147-152 cm).
Yarn-dyed
Yarns dyed before weaving, used for checks, stripes and chambray.
Zari
Metallic thread used in Indian weaving and embroidery; originally gold or silver wrapped silk.
Questions buyers ask us

Fabric FAQ

What is georgette fabric?

Georgette is a lightweight, sheer fabric woven from tightly twisted yarns, giving it a fine crinkled texture and soft, flowing drape. It is widely used for sarees, dupattas, lehengas, gowns and dresses. Georgette breathes well, holds digital prints with soft clarity and is available in both solids and prints.

What is crepe fabric?

Crepe is a fabric with a distinctive soft, pebbled (crinkled) surface and a fluid drape that falls gracefully without clinging. Made in poly, moss and silk varieties, it resists creasing and holds print well, making it a staple for kurtis, dresses, sarees, palazzos and co-ord sets.

What is chiffon fabric?

Chiffon is an ultra-sheer, lightweight plain-weave fabric prized for its translucency and weightless float. It is used for dupattas, saree pallus, evening gowns and overlays. Silk chiffon has a softer, more luxurious hand than poly chiffon, and both suit soft, fluid silhouettes.

What is the difference between georgette and chiffon?

Both are sheer, but chiffon is lighter, smoother and more transparent, while georgette is slightly heavier, grainier and more opaque. Georgette is easier to sew and drapes with more bounce; chiffon floats more.

What is satin fabric?

Satin is a fabric woven in a satin construction that gives a glossy, lustrous face and a smooth matte reverse. Its rich sheen and fluid drape make it ideal for gowns, lehengas, blouses, festive wear and linings. Poly-satin offers the satin look at an accessible price point.

What is muslin (mulmul) fabric?

Muslin, known in India as mulmul, is a soft plain-weave cotton valued for its breathability and gentle, skin-friendly feel. It is ideal for summer kurtis, dupattas, baby wear and nightwear. Cotton mulmul is graded by yarn count, while viscose muslin is often graded by kg, where a higher number indicates a heavier, fuller fabric.

What is linen fabric?

Linen is a natural fabric spun from flax fibres, valued for its breathability, strength and crisp, slubby texture. It stays cool in heat and develops a relaxed drape over time, making it a favourite for summer shirting, trousers, structured kurtas and resort wear.

What is viscose / rayon fabric? Is it natural or synthetic?

Viscose (also called rayon) is a soft, breathable fabric made from regenerated cellulose, usually wood pulp. It is neither fully natural nor synthetic: the raw material is natural, but it is chemically processed into fibre. It drapes fluidly, takes dye and print vividly and is often blended with polyester for durability.

What is polyester fabric?

Polyester is a durable, wrinkle-resistant and colour-fast synthetic fabric. It is the practical choice for high-volume garment production because it holds digital prints sharply, arrives in stable dye-lots and is consistently priced. It is used for dresses, kurtis, co-ords, linings and everyday fashion.

Why does polyester feel hotter than cotton?

Polyester absorbs almost no moisture (under 1% of its weight) while cotton absorbs about 8%. Sweat stays on your skin instead of being absorbed, so polyester can feel warm and sticky. Open weaves like georgette and moss crepe breathe much better than tight polyester.

Which fabrics are best for Indian summers?

Cotton mulmul, voile, lawn, linen, khadi, chambray, viscose and Tencel are the coolest choices. Look for light GSM (50-130) and open weaves, and avoid tight polyester, scuba and velvet.

Which fabrics shrink the most?

Viscose, linen, cotton mulmul and untreated cotton shrink the most (3-8%). Polyester and nylon hardly shrink. Always ask for pre-shrunk or sanforised fabric and do a shrinkage test before cutting.

Which fabric is best for digital printing?

Polyester fabrics like poly crepe, moss crepe, georgette and satin give the sharpest, brightest prints with sublimation. Cotton, viscose and linen print well with reactive digital printing, with a softer, more natural look.

How do I wash a silk saree at home?

Dry cleaning is safest. If you must wash, use cold water and a pH-neutral silk wash, swirl gently for 2-3 minutes, rinse, roll in a towel and dry flat in shade. Never wring, soak or iron the zari directly.

What is GSM in fabric?

GSM stands for grams per square metre - the standard measure of a fabric's weight and density. A higher GSM means a heavier, thicker fabric; a lower GSM means a lighter, sheerer one. GSM helps buyers match a fabric's weight to the right garment, such as light GSM for summer kurtis and higher GSM for structured wear.

What is MOQ (minimum order quantity) for fabric?

MOQ is the minimum order quantity a supplier will produce or sell per design or colour. At Clothwala, the bulk wholesale MOQ is typically 100-200 metres per design, with 1-5 metre samples available for evaluation and progressive discounts on larger volumes.

What is RFD (Ready For Dyeing) fabric?

RFD stands for Ready For Dyeing - greige (undyed) fabric prepared so that buyers can dye it to their own custom shades. It lets brands colour fabric to order rather than buying pre-dyed stock, giving full control over the colour palette for a collection.

What is digital print fabric?

Digital print fabric is fabric printed using digital inkjet technology, which reproduces intricate, multi-colour and photo-realistic designs with sharp detail and no repeat limits. It allows fast, flexible, low-minimum printing of custom designs on bases like crepe, georgette, satin and poly.

What is denier in fabric?

Denier is a unit measuring the thickness (linear density) of the individual yarns in a fabric. A lower denier means finer, lighter yarns and a more delicate fabric; a higher denier means thicker yarns and a more robust fabric. It is commonly referenced for sheer fabrics like chiffon and georgette.

What is lurex fabric?

Lurex is fabric woven with fine metallic threads that create a shimmering, light-catching effect. It is used in festive and occasion wear such as lehengas, sarees, gowns and party-wear blouses, and is available on bases like chiffon, georgette and satin in gold, silver and toned metallics.

How do I check fabric quality before a bulk order?

Order a sample first, then check GSM, shrinkage, colour rub, bleed, sheerness, stretch recovery, seam slippage, pilling and shade. Our Buyer's tests section shows how to do each one at home in minutes.

Ready to work with fabric?

From learning to buying, the right way.

We would rather you buy the right fabric than the most fabric. Here is how buyers who use this guide usually start with us.

Step 1

Touch it first

Order a sample book of 10 fabrics and feel the weights and weaves from this guide in your hand.

Step 2

Test it

Run the nine buyer's tests on your shortlist. Check shrinkage, colour and drape before you commit.

Step 3

Order with confidence

Place a bulk or custom order with digital or rotary printing, made through our partner mills.

Order a sample book Bulk and custom orders International buyers Ask a fabric question

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