Barbour Fabric Glossary

Barbour Fabric Glossary

  • ALCANTARA® A unique 68% polyester and 32% Polyurethane ultramicrofibre, non-woven fabric combining aesthetic appeal with exceptional comfort, warmth, durability and easy maintenance.
  • AMF Please see Columbian Stitching
  • ANTIQUE WAX Antique wax is a mediumweight waxed cotton which is heavily calendered. The resulting lustrous and glossy finish is designed to change character with wear. It is currently available in 60z cotton.
  • BRITISH WOOL TWEED Using only pure wool fibres from the British Isles, this cloth offers strength and durability with a rugged appearance for the toughest of environments.
  • CASHMERE One of the softest and most luxurious yarns available Barbour only buy Chinese Cashmere which is one of the highest qualities available and it is most commonly used in Barbour shawls/ scarves. Hand wash only.
  • COLUMBIAN STITCHING Also known as AMF. A machine stitch mainly used with lining, which has a hand-finishing appearance.
  • COOLMAX® A naturally hydrophobic polyester with fibre cross sections designed to ensure high breathability and moisture wicking It is made by DuPont and is often used in performance sportswear.
  • CORDURA® Cordura is DuPont's abrasion-resistant, air-textured, high technology nylon fabric engineered for durability, strength, lightness and easy care. Even the lightest Cordura fabric has two times the abrasion resistance of comparable standard nylon and three the tear strength.
  • COTTON A strong, natural fibre. It is cool to wear but does not dry quickly. Often blended to extend usefulness.
  • COTTON JERSEY A generic term for a plain knit fabric without a distinct rib. The consistent interloping of yarns in the jersey stitch produces a fabric with a smooth, flat face and a more textured, but uniform, back. Originally made from wool, jersey fabric was first manufactured on the island of Jersey, off the coast of England.
  • DURACOTTON A machine washable, cotton fabric with a cracked wax effect resin coating
  • DURAWAX A densely woven heavyweight 8oz waxed cotton which has been emmerised to give a slightly peached and luxurious finish. The character of this fabric improves with wear and age.
  • ELASTANE This synthetic fibre is very extensible, abrasion resistant and dries very quickly. Often blended with other fabrics to increase stretching qualities.
  • GARMENT WASHED see pre-washed garments.
  • GORE-TEX® NEW The worlds most durably waterproof, 100% windproof and very breathable fabric technology. Satisfaction is guaranteed. (GORE-TEX®, GUARANTEED TO KEEP you DRY®, Gore and designs are registered trade marks of W L Gore & Associates.)
  • LYCRA® An elastane fibre trademarked by DuPont. Lycra is used to give comfort, movement and shape retention to a garment that will not lose its elasticity through washing.
  • MERCURY A heavily calendared polyester/polyamide changeant quilt fabric.
  • MERINO WOOL A luxurious, warm, natural fibre from the Merino sheep. 100% natural, biodegradable and sustainable.
  • MICROFIBRE Fibres made using microfibre technology, which weigh less than 1.0 denier. The fabrics made from these extra-fine fibres provide gentle drape and are incredibly soft. Comparatively, microfibres are two times finer than silk, three times finer than cotton, eight times finer than wool, and one hundred times finer than a human hair. Currently, Barbour uses two types of microfibres nylon and polyester.
  • MILLEDWAX Milledwax is a luxurious brushed wax cotton which is passed slowly and carefully over emery rollers to produce a fine, soft, suede-like finish. It is available in a heavyweight 80z fabric.
  • MOLESKIN Soft, warm yet strong 100% Cotton fabric.
  • OILED LEATHER Natural cowhide specially treated with a unique oil to give a water-repellent finish.
  • PIGMENT GARMENT DYED The garments are treated with pigment dyes, especially designed to fade gradually with each wash. This results in a 'weatherworked' look.
  • PRE-WASHED GARMENTS Garments are pre-washed to give a soft handle and 'weatherworked' look.
  • PIQUE A medium-weight knitted cotton fabric with texture.
  • POLYAMIDE An extremely strong, abrasion resistant fibre. It resists creasing well, dries quickly but is cool to the touch. Available under a wide variety of brand names offering specific enhanced properties.
  • POLYCOTTON A blend of polyester and cotton that gives durability and breathability and improves care characteristics. It is lightly brushed for a soft handle.
  • POLYESTER An extremely strong, synthetic fibre that is resistant to abrasion. It does not crease easily and maintains its shape well. It dries quickly and is warmer to wear than cotton. Often blended with cotton to improve crease resistance and drying time.
  • POLYESTER WADDING Polyester fibres used for padding quilted garments.
  • POLYURETHANE (PU) Man-made synthetic polymer fibre. Used as coating to make fabrics waterproof.
  • SATIN WAX A 6oz waxed cotton which has been heavily calendered to give a smooth and highly polished effect. The resulting finish is extremely durable and is suitable for all weather.
  • SYLKOIL Our oldest and more traditional wax cotton is called Sylkoil. This is an "unshorn" woven cotton which is dyed and waxed. The natural characteristics of the cotton are reflected in the rich colour and finish. The fabric is matt in appearance and has a drier handle than Thornproof. It is available in 3 different weights: 4oz, 6oz and 8oz.
  • TACTEL® A soft, lightweight, yet durable, nylon fibre trademarked by DuPont. It is extremely easy to wash, allows the skin to breathe and readily regains its shape, making it ideal for active outdoor clothing.
  • THERMOSTAT® A lightweight, thermal insulating, hollow-core polyester fabric by DuPont. It's breathable, with good moisture wicking properties and it dries quickly.
  • THORNPROOF® Thornproof® wax is a lustrous wax with a deep colour and even touch. The cotton is dyed and then calendered between rollers to produce a clean and smooth finish. The fabric was originally designed to protect the wearer from sharp thorns and brambles. Thornproof@ wax is available in 6oz.
  • TWILL WEAVE A basic weave in which the cotton fabrics are constructed by interlacing warp and filling yarns in a progressive alternation which creates a diagonal effect on the face of the fabric. In some twill weave fabrics, the diagonal effect may also be seen clearly on the reverse of the fabric.
  • VISCOSE A manufactured fibre made of regenerated cellulose. It is soft, absorbent and drapes well. Viscose is a refined type of rayon and is often used in linings on high quality garments.
  • WAX LEATHER Natural cow hide which has been treated with a protective wax.
  • WEATHERED WAX Weathered wax, sometimes referred to as Cracked Wax, is an aged-finish waxed cotton which gives a characteristic worn and weathered appearance. It is available in heavier weight 8oz cotton.
  • WOOL A luxurious, warm, natural fibre. It is warm to wear but does not dry quickly. Many yarn types and blend are available. It is also used to produce felted, worsted and Loden fabrics.