heathered

Heathered describes fabric, yarn, or colorwork that uses fibers of varying colors blended together to produce a soft, speckled or heather-like appearance rather than a uniform solid color. The result is a muted, slightly matte finish with visible flecks or a blended tonal depth common in casual and knitwear.

The heathered effect is achieved in several ways: by spinning yarn that contains fibers dyed in different colors and then knitting or weaving with that yarn, by combining plies of different colored yarns (a technique sometimes called marling), or by using a single strand that has been melange-dyed so the colors are integrated during fiber preparation. The goal is a balanced mix that hides minor wear and stains while adding visual texture. The exact look can range from very fine, almost uniform in shade to more conspicuous flecks depending on fiber length, fiber type, and color contrast.

Common in wool and cotton fabrics, as well as synthetic blends, heathered fabrics are widely used in sweaters, T-shirts, fleece, and athletic wear. The term is often applied to colors such as heather gray, heather navy, or heathered black, and describes both the fabric’s appearance and the colorway.

Etymology: The term derives from the visual similarity to the mixed tones found in heather plants, rather than from a direct relation to plant material in the fabric. Related terms include melange and marled yarns, which describe similar color-blend effects with subtle distinctions.