What is Jacquard?

Its important to note one thing when you ask yourself what is jacquard, is that it's not a fabric. There are jacquard fabrics, but jacquard is a technique. Many textile brands that are either new or haven’t built their experience in the industry yet often 

What is Jacquard?

Jacquard is a type of weave technique that is known for its highly detailed and complex patterns. The designs are woven directly into the fabric and not printed like many other fabrics used today. This ensures that the fabric lasts much longer, and avoiding printing designs on the fabric allows it to maintain its high quality.

When you print your designs onto fabric, you end up sacrificing:

• Durability: Your fabric designs are likely to fade or peel. But if the designs are actually woven into the fabric, you won’t need to worry about that. Fabrics that have designs printed onto them are highly likely to be damaged in the long term with repeated washing.

• Premium Feel: Fabrics that have designs woven into them often come across as more sophisticated and premium than fabrics that have designs printed onto them. Woven fabrics also offer a three-dimensional texture that printed fabrics cannot match.

• Chemical Exposure: Printed fabrics are often made using chemicals. Chemical exposure to your skin in any way is never a good thing. Woven fabrics are not known for using harsh chemicals in their production; they rely on the yarn and the weave patterns to create their designs.

Summary: Jacquard is a way of weaving where the patterns are part of the fabric instead of just being printed on top, which maintains its high quality for much longer, feels super high-quality and textured, and avoids all those weird chemicals used in printing.

What Does Jacquard Feel Like?

Since Jacquard fabric has its designs woven into it rather than printed on it, you don’t feel an odd, bumpy texture when you run your hand or any part of your body against the fabric. Jacquard fabric, with its sophisticated appearance, will always feel soft against your skin.

However, how long the fabric remains soft is determined by the type of fibre used. Natural sources like linen are known to last decades and only get softer as you wash them.

Where are Jacquard Fabrics Used?

You now know what is Jacquard fabric, but where is it found?

1. Furniture Jacquard fabric can be used for many things found in your home. Some examples include tablecloths, napkins, pillows, and duvet covers. They can also be found in drapes and curtains. Jacquard fabric is also used for sofas or chairs, and even for lining walls.

2. Clothing Jacquard fabric is also found in fashion. For those who love natural fabrics against their skin while also having woven designs, Jacquard is often looked to when designing elegant dresses and patterned suits.

Types of Jacquard

1. Damask

The sophisticated, "polite and elegant" member of the family. Damask is usually monochromatic (one color) or tone-on-tone.

• Description: A matte background with a glossy pattern (or vice-versa).
• Key Trait: It is reversible. The pattern on the front appears in inverted colors/textures on the back.  
• Best For: Formal tablecloths, curtains, and high-end upholstery.  

2. Brocade

If Damask is polite, Brocade is the "extra" sibling. It’s heavier, and usually multi-colored.

• Description: It usually incorporates gold or silver metallic threads and has an decorated, embroidery-like look.  
• Key Trait: It is not reversible. The back side usually has a "float" of loose threads where the colored yarns were carried across the loom.
• Best For: Evening wear, religious wear, and statement furniture.  

3. Matelassé

This is the "comfort" Jacquard designed to mimic the look of a hand-stitched quilt.

• Description: It has a distinct puckered or "blistered" surface. Even though it looks padded, it usually doesn't contain any actual batting or stuffing.  
• Key Trait: It offers a 3D texture while remaining breathable.
• Best For: Coverlets, bedspreads, and textured summer blazers.  

4. Tapestry

A heavy-duty version of Jacquard that mimics ancient, hand-woven wall art.

• Description: It uses a massive variety of colored threads to create complex, pictorial scenes (landscapes, florals, or historical motifs).
• Key Trait: It is very thick, heavy, and incredibly durable.
• Best For: Wall hangings, heavy upholstery, and sturdy tote bags.

5. Cloqué

The name comes from the French word for "blistered."

• Description: Similar to Matelassé but lighter and more irregular. It has a "crunched" or wrinkled appearance created by using yarns with different shrinkage levels.
• Key Trait: High texture and a slightly edgy, modern look compared to traditional damasks.
• Best For: High-fashion dresses and structured tops.

6. Jacquard Knit

The rebel of the group because it’s not actually woven on a loom—it’s made on a circular knitting machine.

• Description: It uses the Jacquard mechanism to control individual needles, creating intricate patterns in a stretchy fabric.
• Key Trait: All the beauty of a woven pattern, but with the stretch and comfort of a t-shirt or sweater.
• Best For: Sweaters, leggings, and "athleisure" wear.

7. Synthetic Jacquard

This version swaps out natural fibres for man-made ones like polyester, nylon, or rayon. It’s usually a cheaper fabric but comes at the cost of high chemical use

• Description: It uses the same complex weaving process but with synthetic threads, making the fabric cheaper.
• Key Trait: It’s durable, and resists wrinkles,
• Best For: High-traffic upholstery, outdoor cushions, and budget-friendly formal wear.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can Jacquard Fabric Be Ironed?

Yes, Jacquard fabrics can be ironed, but it is important to not put the iron on too high of a heat.

A medium heat will do just fine for smoothing the fabrics.

It’s also important to know that even though the fabric is exclusively a woven fabric (meaning there are no printed designs on them), it does not mean that it can’t be exposed to heat. It just shouldn’t be exposed to heat for a long time.

Is Jacquard Fabric Luxury?

Yes, Jacquard fabric is a luxury. An example of Jacquard is damask. Damask is a fabric that originated 2000 years ago in Damascus.

The origin of that certain type of fabric was to appease the Arab Royals and give them something beautiful to have in their home. The first damask was actually a tablecloth.

What Is Another Name For Jacquard Fabric?

Other names for Jacquard fabric include damask, Brocade Cloque Tapestry, Matelassé

Why Is Jacquard So Expensive?

A car is so expensive because of how it is made. Many companies in today’s world in the textile industry make their fabrics quickly, but add using low quality methods, and many chemicals. 

Jacquard fabrics are known to be made exclusively by weaving only. The designs you see are woven into the fabric, and the different colours you may see are from different coloured yarns.