Contract Textile Terms Glossary
H
hand:
The "feel" of a fabric when handled. Factors that may contribute to the hand of a fabric include content, weight, construction, and finishing processes.
handwoven:
A fabric woven on either a hand- or hand- and foot-powered loom. Such fabrics often have a unique character that can rarely be duplicated on a power loom.
heat setting:
The process of taking a material and exposing it to a certain temperature for a specific period of time to set and better control the dimensional stability of the fabric.
heather:
A blend of stock-dyed colored fibers used to create a multicolored or multi-toned effect, most often in woolens.
hydrophilic:
"Water loving" materials that absorb water readily. Examples of hydrophilic fibers include cotton and rayon.
hydrophobic:
"Water hating" materials resist the absorption of water. Examples of hydrophobic fibers include polyester and olefin.
