Textile abbreviations & fabric designations simply explained

Textile Abbreviations: Short Codes for Fabrics, Fibres and Material Information

The composition of textiles is often shown in retail using short codes or material abbreviations. When buying fabric, it is helpful to know these textile abbreviations, for example WV for virgin wool, WO for wool, LI for linen, CO for cotton or PES for polyester.

This overview explains common abbreviations for textile fibres and helps you better understand material information. This is especially important for fabrics sold by the metre, natural fabrics, wool fabrics, linen fabrics, fibre blends and historical projects.

Note: This page is a reference guide. For legally relevant product information, the full material description on the respective product always applies. Abbreviations help with understanding, but they do not replace full textile labelling.

Fabric dimensions can also be stated in different ways. Fabric dimensions are often given in square metres (m² or sqm) and/or in running metres (lfm). For example, a fabric with a width of 150 cm and a weight of 200 g/m² has a weight of 300 g/lfm.

Important textile abbreviations when buying fabric

Customers encounter some abbreviations particularly often. They help you understand material information more quickly and classify fabrics more easily.

WV – virgin wool

Virgin wool refers to new wool obtained from a living sheep. We explain more about this in our wool fabric guide.

WO – wool

Wool is a general term. The exact quality depends on origin, processing, weave, weight and material information.

LI – linen

Linen is a plant-based natural fibre and is often used for shirts, undergarments, tunics, dresses and summer garments.

CO – cotton

Cotton is a plant fibre. It is common in many everyday fabrics, but in historical fabric choices its role depends on the period.

SE – silk

Silk is an animal fibre and, depending on the fabric type, can be interesting for fine clothing, lining fabrics or special textile projects.

PES, PA, EL

Polyester, polyamide and elastane are synthetic fibres. They are often found in modern blended fabrics and elastic materials.

Running metres and square metres for fabrics

Fabric weights can be stated in different ways: in grams per square metre (g/m²) or in grams per running metre (g/lfm). When comparing fabrics, the fabric width should therefore always be considered.

Example: if a fabric has a width of 150 cm and weighs 200 g/m², then one running metre of this fabric weighs 300 g/lfm. A fabric can therefore seem heavier or lighter at first glance depending on which measurement is used.

Rule of thumb: g/m² and g/lfm are not the same. When comparing fabrics, always consider width and reference unit.

Plant, animal, artificial and synthetic fibres

The origin or fibre group helps with initial orientation. Natural fibres can be plant-based or animal-based. Man-made fibres are produced technically; some are based on cellulose, while others are synthetic fibres made from chemically produced polymers.

Plant fibres: for example cotton, linen, hemp, jute or ramie.
Animal fibres: for example wool, virgin wool, silk, alpaca, cashmere or mohair.
Cellulose-based man-made fibres: for example viscose, modal, lyocell or cupro.
Synthetic fibres: for example polyester, polyamide, acrylic or elastane.

Table of textile abbreviations

The following table is intended as a reference guide. Abbreviations that are especially relevant or more common at TuchundStoff are highlighted in bold.

Show all textile abbreviations

Abbreviation	Name	Origin / fibre group
AB	Abacá	Plant fibre
AL	Alfa grass	Plant fibre
AR	Aramid	Synthetic fibre
AS	Asbestos	Mineral fibre
CA	Acetate	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
CC	Coconut	Plant fibre
CF	Carbon	Technical fibre
CLF	Polyvinyl chloride	Synthetic fibre
CLY	Lyocell	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
CMD	Modal	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
CO	Cotton	Plant fibre
CTA	Triacetate	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
CUP	Cupro	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
CV	Viscose	Cellulose-based man-made fibre
EL	Elastane	Synthetic fibre
FI	Fique	Plant fibre
GF	Glass	Mineral fibre
HA	Hemp	Plant fibre
HR	Cattle hair	Animal fibre
HS	Horsehair	Animal fibre
HZ	Goat hair	Animal fibre
HW	Habbe wool	Human fibre
JS	Rosella	Plant fibre
JU	Jute	Plant fibre
KE	Kenaf	Plant fibre
KP	Kapok	Plant fibre
LA	Rubber	Man-made fibre
LI	Linen	Plant fibre
MAC	Modacrylic	Synthetic fibre
MTF	Metal	Technical fibre
NF	New Zealand fibre	Plant fibre
PA	Polyamide	Synthetic fibre
PAN	Acrylic	Synthetic fibre
PE	Polyethylene	Synthetic fibre
PES	Polyester	Synthetic fibre
PP	Polypropylene	Synthetic fibre
PTFE	Polytetrafluoroethylene	Synthetic fibre
PVAL	Polyvinyl alcohol	Synthetic fibre
RA	Ramie	Plant fibre
SE	Silk	Animal fibre
SI	Sisal	Plant fibre
SN	Sunn	Plant fibre
ST	Tussah silk	Animal fibre
WA	Angora wool	Animal fibre
WG	Vicuña	Animal fibre
WK	Camel hair wool	Animal fibre
WL	Llama wool	Animal fibre
WM	Mohair wool	Animal fibre
WN	Rabbit hair	Animal fibre
WO	Wool	Animal fibre
WP	Alpaca	Animal fibre
WS	Cashmere wool	Animal fibre
WU	Guanaco	Animal fibre
WV	Virgin wool	Animal fibre
WY	Yak	Animal fibre
ZS	Cellulose	Plant fibre

Notes on using textile abbreviations

Textile abbreviations are useful when reading fabric lists, labels, older material information or manufacturer details. For customers, however, it is always important to check the full material description for the respective product.

Especially with natural fabrics and fibre blends, it is worth taking a closer look: a fabric made of wool, virgin wool, linen, silk or a blend can behave very differently depending on weight, weave, processing and care.