Corduroy Fabrics

First produced in Manchester, England, corduroy fabric is typically made of cotton, although polyester, rayon and acrylic fibers are sometimes used. These fibers are twisted and laid flat to give corduroy fabric the look that is recognizable today. The size of these twisted fibers is referred to as the wale size. The higher the wale size, the thicker the fabric. These higher wale fabrics are customarily found in corduroy upholstery fabrics and are coarser to the touch than those cords with smaller wale sizes. The back of corduroy fabric is typically a flat or twill weave. Corduroy fabric is very much like a ridged velvet, but has a higher durability making it suitable for bedding, draperies and upholstery.