Traditional Fabric Styles

Solids

• Solid fabric is used in almost all aspects of life, and has been for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans, for example, wrapped solid pieces of fabric around themselves strategically, which served as clothing. Solid fabric styles are still used today and are seen in all fabric types, from cotton to jersey to polyester to rayon. Solid fabrics are often used in home decor, such as on bed sheets or drapery, and on clothing.

Patterned Fabrics

• Patterned fabrics have a long history dating back to Ancient Egypt. These fabrics are made from all types of material, including silk, velvet, cotton, rayon, nylon and jersey. Throughout history, patterned fabrics have been used in clothing, home decor and sometimes for decoration in itself. There are an innumerable number of patterned fabric styles. For instance, clothing is sometimes made with plaid fabric, polka dots or stripes. Patterned fabric has also been used to make tapestries featuring everything from meaningless patterns to pictures of a sovereign.

Luxurious Fabrics

• There are several styles of fabric that are thought to be a bit more "luxurious" than other types. These include satin, silk, sateen and velvet. Satin, silk and sateen are often used in clothing, robes and bed sheets. While they appear similar in texture (they are all rather shiny, with the exception of sateen, and feel a bit slippery), they are made out of very different types of fibers. Silk, the most expensive, is made from cocoons of silk worms (the species bombyx mori). Sateen, although similar in appearance to silk, is not as shiny and is made of cotton fibers. Satin is made from blends of rayon, nylon or silk. These fabrics can have patterns on them, but often do not.

  Velvet is another type of luxurious fabric dating back to 2000 BC and has historically been associated with nobility. Velvet can come in an array of colors and is made from a variety of fibers. The most common fibers used are rayon, acetate and silk. This fabric style is often used in home decor or clothing.

Jacquard Loom Styles

• Styles of fabric that must be placed on a jacquard, like many of the patterned styles, include brocade and damask. These fabrics are associated with opulence and are used in clothing and upholstery. These fabric styles are made out of luxury fibers, including silk. The jacquard loom allows the weaver to create a pattern with a series of punched holes, which he will then use to weave the fabric. In modern times, jacquard patterns are often made by computers, as making punched hole patterns can prove tedious. Damask fabric uses tricks of light to highlight warped threads, which create a pattern and appear shiny, while the rest of the fabric looks dull in comparison. The back of a piece of damask fabric is always slightly darker than the front to highlight the contrast, but damask is usually made of one color or similar hues. Brocade uses similar techniques to damask, but often uses contrast colors to make the pattern "pop" even more. Metal is often used within brocade patterns to highlight the pattern and contrast.