What are woven fabrics called? (A comprehensive list of names)

Common Names for Woven Fabrics

1. Basic Terminology (by Material)

Cotton Fabric: Breathable and sweat-absorbent, suitable for everyday T-shirts and bedding, but prone to wrinkling and shrinking. "Combed cotton" on the market refers to high-quality cotton with short fibers removed, resulting in a smoother feel.
Polyester Fabric: Commonly known as "Dacron," wrinkle-resistant and durable, suitable for jackets and curtains. Note that "composite polyester" may contain inferior lining layers.
Linen Fabric: Linen (breathable and cool), ramie (stiff and structured), wrinkles easily, which is a normal characteristic for summer shirts.

2. Naming by Texture Characteristics

Plain Weave Fabric: Warp and weft threads interlace one over one, like graph paper (e.g., poplin, fine canvas), with a relatively stiff feel.
Twill Fabric: Has diagonal lines on the surface (e.g., khaki, denim), thicker and more durable than plain weave.
Satin Fabric: Smooth and glossy (e.g., satin), looks luxurious for high-end bedding, but prone to snagging.

3. Special Process Fabrics

Oxford Fabric: Double warp and single weft weave creates a granular texture, durable and wrinkle-resistant, commonly used for backpacks and shirts. Beware of "imitation Oxford fabric" using printing to mimic the texture.
Corduroy: Surface has vertical corduroy stripes, warm and has a retro feel. Choose "wide corduroy" to avoid shedding, "fine corduroy" is more delicate.
Canvas: Multiple layers of coarse yarn are densely woven, stiff and load-bearing. Distinguish between "lightweight canvas" (school bags) and "heavy-duty canvas" (tents).

4. Functional Woven Fabrics

Waterproof Fabric: Nylon or polyester surface coated with a PU layer (e.g., outer layer of a windbreaker), makes a "rustling" sound when rubbed.
Flame-Retardant Fabric: Chemical fiber blended with flame retardant (for workwear), look for EN11612 certification.
Blackout Fabric: Contains a black silk layer to block light (for curtains), choose physical blackout > chemical coating (no powder shedding).

5. Avoiding Naming Pitfalls

"Ice Silk Cotton": Actually a synthetic fiber (polyester + spandex), not real cotton.
"Noble Silk": Often cheap polyester imitation satin, prone to pilling after three washes.
"Heavyweight Fabric": Refers to a high gram weight (≥220g/㎡); a genuine product will feel substantial and heavy in your hand.