Corduroy is a textile with a distinctively raised “cord” or wale texture, most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel between them.
It looks as if it is made from multiple cords laid parallel to each other. The word “corduroy” is often falsely believed to derive from the French phrase “corde du roi” or the cord of the king, but it actually comes from “corde du roi” (cord of the king) and “Duroy,” which was a coarse woolen cloth made in England in the 18th century.
Corduroy is traditionally used in making British country clothing, and its origin lies in items worn by townspeople in industrial areas. It has been used in Europe since the 18th century, notably expanding in popularity during the 1970s.
The primary types of corduroy are standard wale, pin cord, and pigment-dyed/printed corduroy. It is considered a durable cloth and is found in the construction of trousers, jackets, and shirts.
The wale count per inch can vary from 1.5 to 21, with the traditional standard usually between 10 and 12. Corduroy is also known by other names such as corded velveteen, elephant cord, pin cord, Manchester cloth, and cords.
It is made by weaving extra sets of fiber into the base fabric to form vertical ridges called wales. The width of the wales varies between fabric styles and is specified by wale count—the number of wales per inch.
“Cordura” is a collection of synthetic fiber-based fabric technologies used in a wide array of products, including luggage, backpacks, trousers, military wear, and performance apparel.
It was developed and registered as a trademark by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) in 1929 and is currently owned by Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries.
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corduroy