Contract Textile Terms Glossary
S
sateen:
A fabric created by using either a warp- or filling-faced satin weave.
satin weave:
One of three basic weaves; the others are plain and twill weaves. Satin weaves are made up of predominately warp or weft filling floats. Satin weaves are found in damask, brocades, and many other decorative and contract fabrics.
Satura®:
A registered trademark of Unifi, Inc., for a solution-dyed yarn that can be produced in a wide array of colors, including custom-matched colors. www.unifi-inc.com
Scotchguard:
The original branded name for a soil- and stain-repellent finish. Soil- and stain-repellent finishes are now applied to fabrics in various manners using different generic chemicals in place of Scotchguard. Soil and stain repellents provide protection against staining, moisture, and mold and mildew to improve the ease of care and cleanability of materials.
seam slippage:
Seam slippage refers to the condition that occurs when a fabric pulls apart at a seam. Refer to the ACT voluntary textile performance guidelines under physical properties for specific seam slippage test information.
SEF:
A registered trademark of Solutia for a self-extinguishing modacrylic fiber that is flame-resistant in certain constructions. www.solutia.com
shantung:
A silk fabric characterized by a fine warp and an uneven slub filling yarn that produce a nubby texture on the surface of the fabric. The name comes from Shantung, China, where the fabric originally was woven of wild silk.
sheer:
A transparent or lightweight fabric often used for window treatment.
silk:
A fine, strong, continuous protein filament produced by the larva of silkworms and noted for strength, resilience, luster, and elasticity.
skew:
A weave alignment condition in which filling yarns are not perpendicular to the selvage, the result of uneven tension in weaving or finishing. Skew is measured by drawing a line perpendicular to the selvage from the point at which a filling yarn meets the selvage. The maximum distance that the filling yarn deviates from the perpendicular line is measured and reported. Generally no more than one inch of skew is acceptable. See also bow.
sku:
Abbreviation for stock keeping unit.
slub yarn:
A novelty yarn with thick and thin areas spun into the yarn for effect.
solution-dyed:
A method of dying fiber also known as dope-dyed. The pigment or dye is added into the spinning solution/polymer before it is forced through the spinneret, dispersing the color evenly throughout the fiber and producing excellent color-fastness and consistency.
space-dyed:
Fiber that has been dyed in monochromatic or multicolor spaces along a given length in a specific repeat or a random pattern.
specifier:
The architect or interior designer who selects furniture, fabrics, and finishes for a specific interiors project.
spinning:
The process of producing a spun yarn from staple fibers.
standard:
The reference against which quality or color evaluations are made.
staple fiber:
Natural or cut continuous filament fibers used to make spun yarns.stock-dyed: Fiber that has been dyed before being spun into yarn.
stretch yarn:
Yarn that is engineered to have permanent stretch and recovery characteristics. See Lycra.
strié:
French word for an irregular or random stripping effect in a cloth, which is created by using varying shades of the same color.
strike-off:
A printed fabric term that refers to a short length of fabric made prior to production to verify design accuracy and adjust color.
sueded:
An effect created in the finishing process. As fabric passes through abrasive rollers, the face of the fabric is napped, leaving the fabric with a soft hand resembling suede.
Sunbrella®:
A registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc., for 100% solution-dyed acrylic performance fabrics. www.sunbrella.com
synthetic fiber:
Fiber manufactured from chemical compounds, e.g., nylon, polyester, olefin, acrylic, vinyl.
