All You Need To Know About Corduroy (2024)

FAQs

All You Need To Know About Corduroy? ›

Corduroy is instantly recognisable for its distinctive ridges, also known as wales. The fabric is created using three yarns that are woven together. The formation of the weave creates the ridges, and these vary in width. For example, higher wales will create thinner ridges, more closely packed together.

The type of corduroy is based on the number of ridges per inch, so a jumbo cord has less ridges per inch, the finest corduroy is Pin or Needle cord which has over 16 Wales per inch and is the finest corduroy out there. But a standard corduroy has around 11 Wales per inch.

The Best In Comfort Clothing

The first, and most, obvious reason that corduroy endures is because it is a feel-good fabric. A thick, often cotton-based yarn, corduroy is divided into “wales”, aka thick threads, that give the style its striped effect.

There are different types of corduroys, which are classified by the number of lengthwise pile rows per inch—feathercord has 20-25; pinwale has 16-23; regular wale has 14; wide wale has 6-10; and broad wale has 3-5.

A wale is a column of loops running lengthwise, corresponding to the warp of woven fabric. The lower the number, the thicker the wales' width (e.g., 4-wale is much thicker than 11-wale). Wale count per inch can vary from 1.5 to 21, although the traditional standard is usually between 10 and 12.

How often are you caught in the rain wearing corduroy? It would hold up as well as other fabrics being soaked occasionally - think washing machine. It's fabric and can certainly tolerate getting wet. It won't look nice and have its soft feeling, if it gets wet and then is just allowed to air dry.

However, its modern journey began in 18th-century Europe, particularly in France and England, where it was known as "corde du roi" or "cord of the king." Its regal name spoke to its luxurious feel and was favoured by the aristocracy.

Corduroy fabric has advantages, of course, also has small shortcomings, its shortcoming is easy to tear, although say along pile direction of tearing strength is low, the fabric in the process of wearing, fluffy part of its contact with the outside world, especially is clothing elbow, neckline, cuffs, in areas such as ...

Corduroy has a fascinating history that can be traced back to around 200 AD when fustian, a material used by the Egyptians, is thought to have been its earliest ancestor. Modern corduroy was developed in the UK during the 18^th century. However, no one is entirely sure of the name origin.

Corduroy is generally more expensive than fabrics made with similar materials due to its relatively complicated production process.

What does the corduroy symbolize? ›

Corduroy became fashionable again as a symbol of the anti-establishment ideals of the 1960s counterculture movement and peaked the following decade. After resurfacing during the grunge era of the 1990s, the regard for corduroy has waxed and waned.

Beyond the numerous color choices available, corduroy has a variety of named types based on their unique characteristics. Pinwale—Sometimes referred to as “micro wale" corduroy, this includes corduroys with the finest wales, or highest wale number, often as many as 22 wales per inch.

Most fast-fashion retailers and sustainable brands have corduroy pants front and center in their winter collection. From Everlane's sustainable wide-leg corduroy pants to Free people's chocolate high-rise brown cotton corduroy pants, you will see this look everywhere you turn this winter 2024.

The lyrical content for "Corduroy" can be interpreted in many ways, but one common theory is that they are about the pressures of fame. In an interview, vocalist Eddie Vedder stated: It is about a relationship but not between two people. It's more one person's relationship with a million people.

Loads of experts agree that the word “corduroy” comes literally from the French words “Cord du Roi” meaning “cord for Kings.” Textile archivists believe the fabric's original conception, whatever it was called, originate in Fustat, Egypt in 200 AD.

Corduroy fabric is renowned for its ribbed or cord-like texture. This was achieved by weaving or knitting a combination of cotton or a cotton blend. This textile has been a staple for centuries, and it remains a beloved material in fashion today.

Wale Count & Types of Corduroy

The width of the wales defines the texture of the Corduroy. This is measured by the number of wales per square inch, e.g. 14-Wale. Corduroy with wider wales, such as 1.5, is often used on upholstery or hard wearing trousers, while a wale measurement of 14 will make for a finer garment.

Dark brown and dark green are the best colours to start with - like the brown at top, and the green shown above. Darker, more muted versions stand out less and are easier to wear. Navy seems appealing because it's such a staple menswear colour, but often it looks like a poor imitation of a worsted or flannel.