Molton (brushed)

Also known as: Brushed molton, Brushed molleton

Cotton molton brushed on both sides — soft, opaque; used for stage blackout, bed linen and winter shirts.

~1 min read Fact-checked by Clubmartin Textile Editorial Last reviewed: August 7, 2026 Sources (2)

Description

Brushed molton is a plain- or twill-weave cotton fabric raised on both sides in several passes with card wire rollers. The soft, short pile arises from pulling individual fibre ends out of the base fabric. Raising can be wet or dry; the goods are subsequently sheared and, for theatre applications, flame-retardant finished.

Fabric weights are typically 160-320 g/m². Raising reduces reflectivity and makes the fabric opaque (black blackout molton) while producing a soft, warming hand. Besides stage blackout (backdrops, floor covers), brushed molton is used for winter bed linen (flannelette), winter shirts (flannel) and childrenswear.

Care: 40-60 °C, medium tumble; the nap flattens somewhat after several washes. Flame-retardant finishes require care per manufacturer instructions (B1 to DIN 4102-1 may be lost). Environmental benefit: unlike fleece, cotton does not shed microplastics; GOTS-certified organic cotton available.