Corduroy fabric
Usually cotton. The pile runs in lengthwise ribs (wales). The finer the wale, the dressier the cord.
How it feels
Soft, warm and ribbed.
Season: Autumn and winter – it keeps you warm.
What it's used for
Trousers, jackets, skirts, shirts.
Wide corduroy trousers or a jacket for autumn; fine wale reads smarter, wide wale more casual.
Pros
- Warm and hard-wearing
Cons
- Ribs wear at knees and elbows
Care: a typical label
Always follow your own garment's label – blends and finishes change the care.
How it's constructed
Pile weave. Dense cut yarns stand up from the base cloth – the pile. Warm and rich, but the pile crushes and marks.
A little history
Corduroy became popular in 18th-century England as a workers' cloth, then a 1960s–70s favourite of students and intellectuals.
How to recognise it
Read the surface: diagonal lines mean twill, shiny and slippery means satin, a raised nap means pile, sideways stretch means a knit.
Sustainability
A weave's footprint depends on the fibre it's made from – check the composition on the label.
When buying
The same weave behaves differently in different fibres: silk and polyester satin look alike, but only silk breathes. Always read the composition.
Frequently asked
01What is corduroy?
Usually cotton. The pile runs in lengthwise ribs (wales). The finer the wale, the dressier the cord.
02Is corduroy a natural fabric?
It's a weave or knit – whether it's natural depends on the fibre it's made from.
03Does corduroy shrink?
It can: corduroy may shrink about 3–5% the first time it's washed hot. Cool water and no dryer prevent it.
04Is corduroy breathable?
Moderately: it depends on the weave – open corduroy breathes far better than dense.