Cloth

Cloth is a fundamental textile material formed by interlacing fibers or by felting, resulting in a flexible sheet. It encompasses fabrics and non-woven sheets used for clothing, furnishings, and industrial applications. Fibers in cloth may be natural (cotton, wool, flax/linen, silk, hemp) or synthetic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose). Blends combine different fibers to balance properties such as strength, stiffness, and comfort.

Cloth is produced by several processes. The most common are weaving, which interlaces warp and weft yarns on a loom; knitting, which creates a fabric from interlocking loops; and felting, which mats fibers together through moisture, heat, and agitation. Non-woven fabrics are made by bonding or felting fibers without yarns. After production, cloth may undergo finishing operations such as dyeing, printing, and surface treatments to alter color, appearance, texture, or performance (mercerization of cotton, calendering, water repellents, or flame retardants).

Properties of cloth depend on fiber type, yarn count, weave or knit structure, and finishing. Key characteristics include strength, drape, elasticity, absorbency, and laundry care requirements. Common applications range from apparel and home textiles to industrial uses such as filters, insulation, and geotextiles.

Historically, textiles have been produced for thousands of years, with evidence of woven fabrics in ancient civilizations. The term cloth is often used interchangeably with fabric, though cloth may also refer to the finished material used at hand or in manufacturing.