A plain-woven fabric with slight, flat ribs running across its width.
Faille is identified by slight, flat ribs in the weft direction, across the width of the cloth. Its underlying structure is plain weave. Originally made in silk, it can also be made in wool, cotton or synthetic fibres, so the name alone does not establish fibre content. Compare the rib as well as the surface when identifying a sample. Taffeta has a smooth, lustrous surface and may have a fine crosswise rib, while ottoman is a heavy ribbed or corded fabric. The V&A records silk faille in a 1957 Christian Dior evening dress and a 1987 Givenchy overskirt.
In job listings
This fabric belongs to formal womenswear, accessories and fabric development. Roles in design or alterations may need to understand how its slight ribs behave, and an advisor may simply use the word to describe a crisp evening piece. Search local jobs for “fabric”.
