Textile suppliers use a lot of industry shorthand. Here are some of the most common terms explained in plain language, useful for reading a quote or specification sheet.
Key Terms
- Warp and weft: warp yarns run lengthwise on a loom; weft yarns run crosswise, woven over and under the warp.
- Selvedge: the tightly woven, self-finished edge along both sides of a fabric roll that stops it from fraying.
- Shade card: a physical set of colour swatches used to confirm and reference an exact dye colour before production.
- Swatch: a small fabric sample sent for approval, so a buyer can check colour, texture and weight before a full order is placed.
- Ex-mill: a price or delivery term meaning goods are collected directly from the mill, before freight or delivery charges are added.
Come across a term we haven’t covered? Fabric weight (GSM) is one we cover in detail.