Clothorfabricisaflexibleartificialmaterialmadeupofanetworkofnaturalorartificialfibres(threadoryarn)formedbyweavingorknitting(textiles),orpressedintofelt.
Clothismostoftenusedinthemanufactureofclothing,householdfurnishings,andartsuchastapestry.Beforetheadventofwovencloth,thefunctionsoftextileswerefulfilledbyfursandskins.
Inthepast,allclothwasmadefromnaturalfibres,includingplantsourcessuchassuchasascotton,flax,andhemp,andanimalsourcessuchaswool,hair,andsilk.Inthe20thcentury,theseweresupplementedbyartificialfibressuchaspolyesterandrayon.
Clothismostoftendyed,withfabricsavailableineverycolour.Coloureddesignsinfabriccanbecreatedbyweavingstrandsofdifferentcolours(plaid)andaddingcolouredstitchestofinishedfabric(embroidery),butalsobyusingvariousprintingprocessesonfinishedfabric.
Clothismadeinmanyvaryingstrengthsanddegreesofdurability,fromthefinestgossamerfabricstosturdycanvassailcloths.Therelativethicknessoffibresinclothismeasuredindeniers.Microfiberreferstofibersmadeofstrandsthinnerthanonedenier.