Product Information

Fur fabrics can be made from synthetic fibres such as acrylic, polyester, rayon and modacrylic, as well as natural fibres, such as wool, mohair, cotton, silk and alpaca.

Construction
There are several construction types of Fur Fabric. The construction refers to the method of making the fabric. Different constructions have different characteristics; they are as follows:
Sliver Knitted:
This is the most common and economical method of manufacturing Fur Fabric. There is a slight harshness to the backing, as it is latex coated to bind the pile and stabilise the cloth. The knitted cloth has inherent stretchiness. It is well suited to a broad range of uses. Knitted fabric is generally very stable along the cut edge.
Woven:
This style of manufacturing is usually reserved for higher-grade fabrics as it is a more complex and time consuming process. As a consequence, woven Fur Fabrics are generally more expensive. Although structurally of greater strength than knitted Fur Fabrics they require more care to work with. This fabric does not stretch and is unstable when cut and needs to be finished by overlocking or bonding on the cut edge.
Boa:
 Some good Fur Fabrics are made with this process as its construction forces the pile to stand more upright. Recommended for experienced users of Fur Fabric as it has a tendency to run if not manufactured correctly. Some Stretchiness.
Velboa:
A very hardy, economical fabric that is made in a variety of finishes. One of the its best features is that it is very easy to maintain. It is a micro knitted fabric and very stable and usually 100% Polyester.
Tufted Pile:
A very basic to low quality Fur Fabric used widely as a low cost lining or utility grade. It has a woven base and does not stretch and is not as widely available as it was in the past.

Characteristics
When selecting Fur Fabrics, there are various attributes which have to be taken into account they are:-
Pile Height:
The height of the pile usually expressed in millimetres or inches.
Density:
The amount of fibres per square centimetre, this usually means the more dense the pile the heavier the fabric is, and the Fur Fabric is less likely to "show teeth", that is the backing becoming visible when the fabric is rolled or folded.
Nap:
The direction that the pile runs. This must be taken into account when cutting patterns, to make sure the nap is running in the correct direction in all segments. Some Fur Fabrics do not have a nap, and some fabrics have a distressed or crushed finish, which means there is no set direction for the nap to run.
Colour:
Colour in Fur Fabrics is a little more complex than in fabrics without a pile as there are several factors that affect the tonings. First, there is the type of fibre used; such as dull or bright, second, whether the fabric is polished or unpolished, third, there can be a mixture of different coloured fibres, fourth, the colour can be affected by the angle or colour of the light as it strikes the surface (refraction) of the Fur Fabric. The colour of Fur Fabric on a roll always looks different to the final made up article.
Width:
The most common width for Fur Fabrics is around the 140 - 160 cms range although in some special cases this can vary.
Jacquard:
A Fur Fabric with an inherant design which is included at the knitting phase of manufacture.
Discharge Print:
A design is applied after the fabric has been manufactured.
Tipped:
A plain Fur fabric is tipped with a dye to give it more interest and simulate certain types of Real Fur.
Blended Fibre:
Different coloured fibres a blended to give a natural look to the Fur Fabric.