Textile Glossary
Definitions, properties and product suggestions for 892+ textile terms — organised in 10 thematic categories from fibres to certifications.
All categories
Ten thematic categories cover natural and man-made fibres, weaves, knits, finishing, membranes, seams, cuts, safety norms and certifications.
Natural fibres
Natural fibres are obtained from plants or animals and have formed the backbone of textile production for millennia. They are breathable, skin-friendly and biodegradable.
Synthetic & regenerated fibres
Chemical fibres from petroleum and regenerated cellulose-based fibres — from polyester and elastane to lyocell.
Weaves & fabric constructions
Weaves and fabric constructions describe how warp and weft yarns interlace and give a finished cloth its character. From rugged canvas and crisp poplin through to lustrous satin, each construction produces a distinct surface, hand feel and area of use.
Knits, fleece & pile
Knits, brushed fleeces and pile fabrics with soft, insulating hand for sweat, outdoor and terry goods.
Dyeing & finishing
Wet-chemical and mechanical finishing processes — from Sanforising against shrinkage through reactive dyeing to silicone and enzyme washes.
Membranes & functional finishes
Membranes and functional finishes turn a plain textile into a technical product: waterproof, breathable, windproof, antibacterial or thermally insulating. This category covers the coatings, laminates and high-tech treatments that make the difference in sports, outdoor and workwear applications.
Seams & garment construction
Seams and garment construction literally hold a piece of clothing together: they define fit, durability, wearing comfort and visual finish. This category brings together stitch types, seam constructions, edge and hem techniques as well as the machines that produce them in industrial garment making.
Collars, sleeves & fits
Collar shapes, sleeve variants, necklines and fits define the silhouette, comfort and style of a garment.
Fasteners, denier & safety standards
This category covers fasteners, fabric weights and the many standards that regulate protective clothing, safety footwear and technical textiles. You will find zipper and buckle systems as well as the key EN, ISO and DIN standards for PPE, high-visibility clothing and test methods.
Certifications & trade terms
Social, ecological and recycling labels as well as common trade and product terms of the textile industry that mark the origin, sustainability and category of a garment.
Popular terms
Cotton
fasern-natur
Polyester
fasern-kunst
Elastane
fasern-kunst
Polyamide
fasern-kunst
Water column (hydrostatic head)
membran-finish
Breathable
membran-finish
GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard
zertifikate-handel
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®
zertifikate-handel
GRS - Global Recycled Standard
zertifikate-handel
About this knowledge base
The Clubmartin Textile Glossary is an editorially maintained knowledge base for textile terminology, materials, weaves, finishes, standards and certifications. Every entry is written and reviewed by our in-house textile editorial team and cross-checked against primary sources — standards bodies (ISO/DIN), certification homepages (GOTS, OEKO-TEX, bluesign), manufacturer specifications and peer-reviewed publications.
