What are the classifications of textiles?

Ancient silk fabrics were primarily named according to their weave structure, patterns, and colors. Many of the old names are still used in modern silk, such as crepe, twill, ramie, and silk, along with some foreign terms like georgette and taffeta. Based on the weave structure, raw materials, processing techniques, texture, appearance, and main uses, silk fabrics can be divided into fourteen major categories: gauze, leno, twill, silk, spun silk, gauze, crepe, brocade, satin, ramie, ramie, wool, velvet, and silk.

　　1. Gauze: Silk fabrics with a gauze weave structure, where all or part of the fabric uses warp yarns twisted together to form evenly distributed holes (i.e., "gauze eyes"), also known as plain gauze.

　　2. Leno: Silk fabrics with a leno weave structure, where all or part of the fabric uses warp yarns intertwined to create a lattice-like appearance. There are variations such as straight leno, cross leno, figured leno, and plain leno.

　　3. Twill: Silk fabrics with a twill weave or variations thereof, characterized by diagonal weave lines on the surface, resulting in a lightweight texture. Early twill fabrics featured a stacked, mountain-like diagonal weave, described as "looking like the texture of icicles," hence the name.

　　4. Silk: Natural silk fabrics with a plain weave, characterized by a fine, smooth, and crisp texture.

　　5. Spun silk: Silk fabrics with a plain weave, using either untwisted or weakly twisted warp and weft yarns, resulting in a lightweight and soft texture.

　　5. Brocade: Ornate, multicolored woven silk fabrics using a complex weave structure and multiple colored threads. Brocade is a renowned type of figured silk, historically described as "woven with patterns, its price like gold." There are variations such as Shu brocade, Song brocade, and Yun brocade.

　　7. Satin: Silk fabrics with a satin weave or variations thereof, characterized by a smooth, lustrous, and fine surface.

　　8. Ramie: Silk fabrics with a plain weave, using long silk filaments for the warp and cotton or other yarns for the weft, resulting in a thick, clearly textured fabric. There are variations such as plain ramie and patterned ramie.

　　9. Ramie: Silk fabrics with plain weave, twill weave, or variations thereof, featuring a loosely woven warp and densely woven weft, creating a horizontal shuttle pattern on the surface and a thick texture.

　　10. Wool-like silk: Silk fabrics with various weave structures, using relatively thick warp and weft yarns, resulting in a thick, hairy texture.

　　11. Velvet: Silk fabrics with all or part of the fabric using a pile weave, resulting in a surface with pile or loops.

　　12. Silk: Silk fabrics with a plain weave or variations thereof, characterized by tightly interwoven warp and weft yarns. Silk is a general term for silk fabrics. Its characteristics include a crisp, fine surface and a smooth feel. Silk fabrics without other distinct characteristics can also be called silk.

　　13. Gauze: Silk fabrics with a plain weave or false-gauze weave, characterized by a lightweight texture and visible holes.

　　14. Crepe: Silk fabrics with a plain weave or other weaves, using techniques such as strong twisting of warp and weft yarns, resulting in a wrinkled effect. Its characteristics include bidirectional wrinkles on the surface, soft luster, elastic feel, and good wrinkle resistance.