Corduroy is a smooth and velvet like fabric made from cotton. It is warm
and breathable. The fabric is easy to wash and is durable. It has
distinctive vertical rows of soft pile. The row is referred to cords or
wales, which varies in width. The pinwale is the thinnest and the wide wale
is the thickest.
Cotton corduroy fabric comes in different form like dyed corduroy, printed
corduroy, tie-dyed corduroy, and so on. It is usually considered as casual
wear and is favored in colder climates. The fabric is ideal for pants,
shirts, and sport coats.
Corduroy is said to be a French fabric, "Corde du roi", which
literally mean "fabric of the king". It is believed that corduroy
is an English invention of the late 18
th century. In the 19
th
century, it was widely used by workers and became children's fabric in the
early 20
th century. In America, boys wore cord knickers to
school in winter. Some schools in America and French Scouts adopted it as
uniforms.
Characteristics of Corduroy Fabric
- It is warm.
- It is durable.
- It is washable.
- It is thick and stiff.
- It absorbs and releases moisture quickly.
- It can be ironed at high temperatures.
Uses of Corduroy Fabric
- Fine rib corduroy resembles velvet and does not cost much, so it is
widely used for better cloths, draperies and upholstery.
- Corduroy fabric is very durable. It is commonly made into pants or
trousers, jackets (sports) and shirts.
- Corduroy is also used as skirts, suits, slacks, children's cloths
and dresses.
