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Home › Fabric Guide › Corduroy
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Fabric Guide

Corduroy

Corduroy is a woven pile fabric with distinctive lengthwise ribs, known as wales. It has a soft feel combined with a structured, characterful appearance. Depending on the wale width and quality, corduroy is used for trousers, skirts, dresses, shirts, jackets and accessories.

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Close-up of corduroy fabric with a soft pile and vertical wales
Also known asCorded velvet
StructureSoft lengthwise ribs
Wale widthFrom fine to wide
StretchVaries by quality
Suitable forMainly clothing & accessories
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The Fabric

What is Corduroy?

Corduroy is a woven pile fabric with parallel ribs, known as wales. Extra pile yarns are woven into the fabric and cut to create its characteristic soft pile and ribbed texture.

The look and end use are strongly influenced by the width of the wales. Fine corduroy, such as needlecord or pinwale corduroy, has a subtler appearance and is often suitable for lighter garments. Wider wales create a bolder texture and are commonly chosen for trousers, jackets and more structured projects.

Where does the name Corduroy come from?

There is a persistent story that the name corduroy comes from the French phrase corde du roi, meaning “the king’s cord”. However, there is no solid historical evidence for this. The name is more likely derived from cord, referring to the ribbed rows, and duroy, an older English term for a coarse fabric.

Variations by Quality

Possible Variations

CompositionOften cotton or a fibre blend
Wale structureFine, medium or wide
StretchStable or with stretch
WeightFrom lightweight to heavy

Always check the individual product specifications for the exact composition, width, weight, stretch, wale width and care instructions.

Uses & Selection

What is Corduroy used for?

Trousers & SkirtsClassic uses that make the most of corduroy’s structured feel and soft pile.
Jackets & OvershirtsMedium-weight and wider-wale qualities work well for structured outerwear.
Dresses & ShirtsFiner, lighter corduroy is suitable for softer, more flexible garments.
Accessories & InteriorsMore substantial qualities can be used for bags, cushions and light upholstery.

Choosing the right quality:consider not only the colour, but especially the wale width, weight and stretch. Fine wales create a subtler and often softer result; wide wales make a stronger visual statement and are generally better suited to more structured garments and projects.

Care

Care Instructions

Pre-washing
Pre-washing Often recommended before cutting for washable qualities
Washing
Washing Wash inside out and follow the individual product instructions
Drying
Drying Preferably air dry, or follow the individual product instructions
Do not bleach
Bleaching Only when permitted by the individual product instructions
Good to Know

Sewing & Choosing

Nap Direction Cut all pattern pieces in the same nap direction; the pile affects how light and colour are perceived.
Wale Direction Keep the wales straight and parallel to the grainline for an even, consistent result.
Sewing Choose the needle according to the fabric weight and test stitch length and feed on an offcut.
Finishing Finish cut edges if the fabric frays and avoid unnecessarily bulky seam layers.
Pressing Avoid crushing the pile. Press carefully from the reverse and test on an offcut first.
Choosing a Quality Compare wale width, weight, composition, stretch and drape for each quality.
Alternatives

Similar Fabrics

These fabrics can be used for similar garments or projects, but differ clearly in surface, structure and appearance.

Sturdy denim fabric with a diagonal twill weave
Nicky Velour→

A soft, stretchy velour fabric with a fluid drape, suitable for comfortable clothing.

Sturdy denim fabric with a diagonal twill weave
Denim→

A sturdy alternative for trousers, skirts and jackets, but without corduroy’s soft pile or ribbed texture.

Stretchy knitted fabric with a ribbed texture
Rib Jersey→

A stretchy knitted fabric with a ribbed texture, lighter and more elastic than corduroy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Corduroy FAQs

Is Corduroy the same as rib velvet?

Corduroy is sometimes described as ribbed or corded velvet, but in English the standard and most widely used name is simply corduroy. It is recognised by its soft pile arranged in parallel wales.

Is Corduroy stretchy?

It varies by quality. Traditional corduroy may be stable, while stretch corduroy can contain elastane or another elastic component.

What does wale width mean in Corduroy?

The ribs are known as wales. The more wales per inch, the finer the texture; fewer wales per inch create wider, more pronounced ribs.

Should Corduroy be cut in one direction?

Yes. Corduroy has a nap or pile direction. Cut all pattern pieces in the same direction to avoid differences in colour and light reflection.

Collection

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Explore the available corduroy qualities, wale widths, colours and current product specifications.

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