Material Research: Textiles

Leather - A durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhides, mostly cattle hide.

• Long-lasting and wears well

Imitation-Leather - A material intended to substitute for leather where a leather-like finish is desired but the actual material is cost-prohibitive or unsuitable. Artificial leather is marketed under many names, including: leatherette; faux leather; vegan leather; PU leather; and pleather.

• Source materials range from kombucha to paper to mushrooms
• Designed to wear like leather

For these and more detailed definitions and to see explanations for other techniques in textile creation, visit B/Samply Encyclopedia.

Non-Woven Fabric - A textile structure held together by the interlocking of fibers in a random web, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means. Generally, crimped fibers that range in length from 0.75 to 4.5 inches are used.

• No interwoven strands

Performance Fabrics - Fabrics made for a variety of end-use applications which provide functional qualities, such as moisture management, UV protection, anti-microbial, thermo-regulation, and wind/water resistance.

• Typically wear-and-tear resistant
• Often stain resistant and easy to clean

Information from B/Samply Encyclopedia.