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To use this ethical fabric guide, use this key to determine whether a fabric is vegan, not vegan or possibly both.
V – Vegan
N – Not vegan
V/N – Materials that can be made using either vegan or non-vegan materials.
Material Name Fabric Description Ethical Status
Aba N Woven fabric, derived from goat and camel hair
Acrylic V Synthetic fabric
Aertex V Trademark name for a cotton fabric
Alpaca N Natural fabric fibre from an alpaca
Baize V/N Coarse felt-like fabric, used for covering pool/gaming tables.
Bamboo V Cloth made from bamboo yarn
Batiste V Light, translucent cotton fabric, often used for lingerie
Broadcloth V Dense woven cloth, historically made from wool – now made from cotton or cotton blend
Brocade N Richly decorative fabric, often made in coloured silks
Buckram V Stiff cloth often used for bookbinding, made from cotton or linen
Bunting N Used for making flags, made from wool
Calico V Plain fabric, made from unbleached/unprocessed cotton
Cambric V White linen, finely woven
Camel hair N Fabric made from real camel hair or camel hair blend
Camlet N Woven fabric made from goat/camel hair or wool
Canvas V Plain woven fabric, used for interiors
Cashmere N Soft fibre made from the undercoat of cashmere goats
Cerecloth (altar cloth) N Waterproof waxed cloth, sometimes called “altar cloth”
Challis V/N Lightweight woven fabric. Originally made from silk/wool blend but now vegan variations are also available, made from cotton or rayon
Chambray (or Cambric) V Gingham cloth with a linen finish. Used for handkerchiefs, linens, or fabric for needlework
Chenille V Heavy fabric woven with chenille cord, used in bedspreads, carpets, rugs, etc.
Chiffon V/N Sheer lightweight fabric made from silk or cotton/other synthetic fibres
Chino V Often used for trousers, made from 100% cotton or cotton-synthetic fabrics
Chintz V Glazed cotton fabric in a bright colour or print
Cork V Derived from the soft bark of trees, often used as a vegan leather
Cord/ Corduroy V A textile made from twisted fibres to form the unique cord pattern.
Cotton V Often used as thread for sewing. This is a plain soft white fibre.
Crepe V/N Soft fabric, traditionally made from wool but now made in synthetic forms.
Cretonne V Heavy cotton fabric, often used for embroidery work
Damask V/N Reversible woven textile, made from either silk/wool or synthetic fibres
Denim V Twill woven fabric, often used for dungarees and jeans
Dimity V Durable sheer cotton fabric with raised checks or stripes
Doeskin N Leather – the skin of a female fallow deer
Duck V Heavy cotton fabric, often used for tents and clothing
Duffel/duffle N A heavy woollen fabric
Elastane V An elastic material made from polyester-polyurethane copolymer – more durable than elastic
Elastic V Stretchable, flexible material made from rubber or similar synthetic material
Etamine/etamin V Light cotton fabric, often used as a curtain lining
Faille V/N A shiny fabric, often made from either wool/silk or cotton fabrc
Felt N Fleecy cloth fabric made from processed fur and wool
Flannel V/N Soft fabric made from either wool or yarn or cotton/synthetic fabric
Flannelette V Light, soft fabric – vegan imitation of flannel
Fleece N Woollen coat of sheep after being sheared before being turned into yarn.
Foulard V/N Lightweight fabric often with a print design, made from either silk or cotton.
Frieze N Heavy woollen material
Fustian V Usually dyed in dark colours. A cotton and linen fabric.
Gabardine V/N Used to make suits. Made from either wool, cotton or textured polyester.
Georgette N Semi-transparent silk material used for dresses
Gingham V Lightweight cotton fabric, usually in a chequered pattern
Grogram N A mix of wool and silk
Grosgrain V/N A fabric made from silk or a synthetic silk
Haircloth/hair N Fabric cloth made from camel hair or horse hair
Hemp V Taken from the cannabis plant, used for yarn, cordage and other fabrics
Jersey V/N Usually used for clothing. Traditionally made from wool, now available in vegan, synthetic varieties
Khaki V Thick material used usually for making military uniforms
Lame V A material woven with metal threads
Leather N Tough material made from animal skins
Leatherette V Vegan, imitation leather made from plants and other sources
Linen V A soft fabric made from flax plant fibres
Linsey-woolsey V/N A strong fabric containing wool, cotton and/or linen
Lint V Cotton textile often used in first aid kids/ to dress wounds
Lisle N A woven fabric with lisle thread
Mackinaw N Heavy woollen fabric
Mackintosh V Waterproof lightweight fabric
Madras V Lightweight fabric made from cotton. Used for light, summer clothes
Marseille V Usually used for bedding, a strong cotton material
Microfibre V A synthetic fabric – a very light yarn
Modal V A synthetic fabric made from beech trees
Mohair N Yarn or silk-like material made from the hair of the Angora goat
Moire, watered-silk N Material made from silk, wool, cotton or rayon
Moleskin V A cotton fabric with soft, leathery finish – similar to vegan leather
Monk’s cloth V A heavy cotton fabric in a basket weave
Moquette V A heavy duty synthetic fabric used for carpets, rugs and other textiles
Moreen V/N Strong textile made from wool and/or cotton
Mousseline de soie V/N Light silky fabric made from silk or rayon
Muslin V Plain weave cotton fabric
Nankeen V Yellow coloured cotton cloth
Ninon V/N Sheer fabric made from silk, nylon or rayon
Nylon V Synthetic fabric
Oilcloth V A fabric painted or treated on one side using an oil spray
Organdie/organdie V See-through muslin
Organza V/N Plain sheer material made from silk, nylon or polyester
Orlon V A brand of wrinkle-free, acrylic textile fibre
Paisley N Patterned soft woollen fabric
Percale V Fine woven soft fabric used for bed linen
PET/PETE V Commonly used thermoplastic polymer resin, used for clothing and plastic containers
Pilot cloth V Twilled woollen material used for blue uniforms
Pique V A weaving style with ribbing or raised cords
Plush V/N A fabric with a pile more than 1/8 inch high, made from vegan or non vegan fibres
Polar fleece/polar wool V Soft insulating fabric made from synthetic materials
Polyester V Synthetic fabric
Pongee N Thin, soft fabric woven from silk
Poplin V Lightweight cotton fabric
Prima Loft V Thermal microfiber insulation material
Ramie V/N Flexible fabric able to hold its shape without wrinkling
Rayon V Chemically treated wood pulp made into a synthetic fabric
Rep/Repp V/N Cloth fabric woven from silk, wool or cotton
Russet N Homespun cloth made from wool and dyed with wood
Sailcloth V Fabrics used for boat sails or tents, made from cotton, nylon or dacron
Samite N Heavy silk fabric, often with gold thread
Sarcenet N Soft fabric used for ribbons and decorative purposes
Sateen V Cotton fabric with a silky, satin finish
Satin V/N Soft fabric made from silk, polyester or nylon
Screening V Plastic or metal mash material
Scrim V Lightweight fabric used for reinforcing buildings
Seersucker V Light fabric made from cotton, linen or rayon. Often in a striped pattern and used for spring, summer wear.
Serge N Woven woollen fabric
Shag V/N Fluffy/shaggy fabric used to make rugs, carpets and other upholsteries
Shantung V/N Silk type fabric used for bridal wear
Shark skin/shagreen N Sharkskin used for its external appearance and texture
Silesie V Woven cotton fabric usually used for clothing pockets
Silk N Soft shiny fibre obtained from silkworms
Spandex V Synthetic fabric fibre used to make elasticated clothing
Sponge cloth V/N Porous fabric woven into a honeycomb texture
Stammel N Woollen fabric often dyed red and used for undershirts
Suede leather N A type of leather, obtained from the underside of animal skin
Swan’s down N Very soft woollen fabric, often used for baby clothes
Taffeta V/N Smooth, plain fabric made from synthetic fibres or silk
Tammy N Plain woollen or cotton fabric used for linings
Tapa/Tappa V Derived from tapa bark, a paper like fabric
Tapestry/Tapis V/N Heavy fabric often used for soft furnishings
Tencel V Made from cellulose in wood pulp, used to make make-up brushes, t-shirts, and more
Thinsulate V Brand of synthetic insulating material
Towelling V Usually cotton or linen, used to make towels
Tweed N Woven fabric made from contrasting woollen thread
Ultrasuede V Synthetic, vegan suede leather
Velcro V Nylon fastening fabric
Velour V A faux woollen knitted fabric
Velvet V/N Soft, shiny textile made from silk, wool, mohair, nylon, acetate, rayon, linen, etc.
Velveteen V Faux vegan velvet
Vicuna N Wool obtained from the coat of the Vicuna
Viscose V Versatile rayon fabric used often in industrial materials, upholsteries and carpets
Viyella N Woven fabric, mixed from wool and cotton
Voile V Sheer, fine fabric made from 100% cotton or cotton blend
Vulcanised fibre V Strong laminated plastic
Whipcord V/N Cotton –like fabric made from twisted vegan or non-vegan yarn
Wincey N Plain or woven fabric often used for pyjamas
Wire cloth V Woven metallic wire used for car windscreens and tea strainers
Wool/woollen N Fibre taken from the coats of various animals
Worsted N Hard textured woven woollen fabric
