Grosgrain - wikipedia Grosgrain A close - up of a piece of grosgrain ribbon. Note the ribs that go across the ribbon. Grosgrain ribbons in various colors and widths Grosgrain / ˈɡroʊɡreɪn /, also gros - grain and, rarely, gros grain, is a type of fabric characterized by its ribbed appearance. In grosgrain, the weft is heavier than the warp, creating prominent transverse ribs. It is called a `` corded '' fabric since the weft resembles a fine cord. Grosgrain is a plain weave corded fabric, with heavier cords than in poplin but lighter than in faille. Grosgrain has a very dull appearance with little luster but is very strong. It is a firm, close - woven, fine - corded fabric. While grosgrain fabric is generally black, it can be many different colors, and grosgrain ribbon comes in a large variety of colors and patterns. `` Grosgrain '' is commonly used to refer to a heavy, stiff ribbon of silk or nylon woven via taffeta weave using a heavy weft which results in distinct transverse ribs. Historically grosgrain was made from wool, silk, or a combination of fibers such as silk and wool or silk and mohair. When a combination of fibers was used, the end result was sometimes given the name grogram, silk mohair, gros de Tours or gros de Napels. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Moire 3 Use in clothing 3.1 History 3.2 Structural uses 3.3 Evening wear 3.4 Millinery 4 Other uses 4.1 Book - binding 4.2 Cargo and packing use 4.3 Craft 4.4 Lanyards 4.5 Percussion 4.6 Watch bands 5 References Etymology Grosgrain is both a direct French loan word and a folk corruption of the French word grogram. Grogram, originally gros gram ( appeared in literature in 1562 ), is defined as a coarse, loosely woven fabric of silk, silk and mohair, or silk and wool. The adjective gros means thick or coarse, originally from the Old French gros, itself derived from the Latin grossus. `` Grain '' is derived from Old French graine, itself derived from the Latin grana ( plural of granum ) -- seed or in some contexts texture. Thus gros gram, grogram and grosgrain are all one and the same : a large grain hence coarse texture, thence a coarse - textured fabric. Moire Moire is a waved or watered effect produced especially on grosgrain silk and woolen moreen via engraved rollers and high pressure on carded material. The end result is a peculiar luster which works best when made from a corded fabric like grosgrain. During the Middle Ages, moire was held in high esteem and was, as currently, used for women 's dresses, for capes, and for facings, trimmings, etc. Use in clothing History Throughout the 17th century, grosgrain fabric was used as the fabric body ( corpus ) for many garments, including waistcoats, jackets, petticoats, beeches, sleeves, jerkins and many other items of clothing, as a cheaper alternative for the lower socio - economic demographic than fine - woven silk or wool. In the 1740s Admiral Edward Vernon, who was known as `` Old Grog '' because he preferred a grosgam cloak to a more expensive variety, introduced the Rum ration in the British Royal Navy. It 's from his attire that the naval term grog is derived. Factories in America started to produce grosgrain silk in the late 19th century. Throughout the 1920s the term seems to have remained true to original definition as a garment fabric. However, circa 1920s it fell out of favor as a garment fabric and was defined identically to contemporary terminology as a grosgrain ribbon. While grosgrain fabric is almost always black, grosgrain ribbon comes in a large variety of colors and printed patterns. The most common contemporary use of ribbed grosgrain is in hems where it may be elasticized or not, especially of polo shirts, T - shirts and underwear. Grosgrain that does have some luster is a very popular fabric especially for ribbons, which are used to ornament and decorate clothing. As grosgrain has less luster than burnished silk or satin it is very popular with and common in evening wear because it is seen as less `` flashy '', though silk and satin ( which is a different weave, as opposed to a fiber such as silk ) can commonly be found on day wear. Although grosgrain may actually be made of silk, it is often erroneously referred to as a separate fabric. Structural uses Lustrous grosgrain is used extensively to join female semi-detached clothing articles such as bodices to skirts and similar, where this necessary joint may be visible. Ribbed grosgrain may be used similarly to twill tape for internal gussets and reinforcements. Grosgrain ribbon is often used for facings and for waistbands. Using a grosgrain ribbon facing for waistbands is faster and uses less fabric. It is also works especially well with bulky fabrics. McCall 's Sewing Book states : `` grosgrain ribbon is used with any heavy fabric to reduce bulk '' though it may be the word `` bulk '' is used in the sense of outward appearance, rather than actual mass. McCall elaborates : `` grosgrain is used to finish the back of novelty braid or to face the back of any fabric belt. '' Evening wear As a more subtle option to lustrous satin, grosgrain is very popular with evening wear, used on the facings of lapels of most dress coats and high - end dinner jackets and tuxedos. Grosgrain is traditionally used to hem and highlight the cut of lapel, collar and visible outermost edges of the formal frock coat and the later morning coat. Hemmed frock - coats, as described, may be seen in the film Gone with the Wind noted for its historically accurate costume. Grosgrain is preferred over satin for practicality -- it does not wear as easily as delicate silk or satin, as the threads do not snag as easily ( on a ring or keys, for instance ). Grosgrain is also used for matching accessories such as bow ties and cummerbunds, though these are often in barathea to complement the main suiting while still avoiding the glare of satin, increasingly gaining a ' flashy ' image. Millinery Grosgrain is also used in millinery. Grosgrain ribbons are popular creating ribbon decorations for hats ( made into flowers, for example ), however grosgrain is most notably used in top hats and opera hats, or as the trimming band on the Homburg. Other uses Book - binding Grosgrain fabric and ribbon are common structural fabrics for the joining or reinforcement of spines or sheaves in fine commercial and hobby book - binding and book restoration. Cargo and packing use A particular characteristic of grosgrain ribbon is that the thicker weft resists longitudinal curling and so it exerts an even pressure when tied around crushable materials. Nylon grosgrain is often used as heavy - duty webbing or binding around luggage, packs, messenger bags and other heavy use `` soft '' goods. It is also used for securing cargo. It can be dyed and is available in a variety of colours ( though again usually black ). Early seat belts and military webbing of every sort during World War II were made of grosgrain hemp, jute and linen. Craft Grosgrain made out of cotton or low - cost synthetic such as polyester is very common for gift - wrap ribbons, or for decorating and ornamenting scrapbooks and greeting cards. It can be used for many different crafts as well, from bead making, to book - binding, to trimming or embellishing, as well as a multitude of other uses. Grosgrain ribbon is the primary ribbon material used in the hair bow industry. Lanyards This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. ( September 2014 ) Grosgrain out of cotton or low - cost synthetic such as polyester is very popular for use as a lanyard, and is often printed on by large corporate companies to use as a marketing or branding tool to promote their companies. Percussion Polyester grosgrain in a 5 / 8 - inch width can be used as the tensioning material attaching the snares of a snare drum to the throw - off mechanism, with the ribbing providing good insurance against slippage. Some like to use it in an attempt to lessen sympathetic snare buzz from external sources as it will hold the tab ends of the snares closer to the head than string and it will provide more dampening than mylar straps. Watch bands Grosgrain ribbons made from nylon are sometimes used to make watchbands. They are also generically referred to as ribbon straps or `` NATO '' straps. The straps are inexpensive, extremely durable, and can be easily and quickly switched out to fit one 's outfit or mood. Grosgrain watch bands come in solid colors and stripes most often but sometimes they are also plaid. Whereas a grosgrain watch band is quite a simple design consisting of a nylon grosgrain ribbon with a center bar buckle or other simple buckle style and a matching grosgrain keeper at one end and punched holes on the other, a so - called `` NATO '' strap has a very specific design which is most readily distinguished by the existence of a pair of metal keepers, something not found on a simple grosgrain watchband. Strictly speaking, a `` NATO '' strap would be one that has a NATO stock number which uniquely identifies it for requisitioning purposes much the way item or part numbers identify goods found in any shopping catalog. The more correct name for the `` NATO '' strap is `` G10 '' or `` G10 strap ''. In 1973, `` Strap, Wrist Watch '' made its debut in the British Ministry of Defence Standard ( DefStan ) 66 - 15. For soldiers to get their hands on one, they had to fill out a form known as the G1098, or G10 for short. Subsequently, they could retrieve the strap at their unit 's supply store of the same name. Though the British Ministry of Defence 's name for the strap was nondescript, its specifications were precise. MoD - issued G10 straps were nylon, only made in `` Admiralty Grey '' with a width of 20mm, and had chrome - plated brass buckle and keepers. Another key trait was a second, shorter piece of nylon strap attached to the buckle. Since the strap was to be used by the military, it needed to be functional and fail - safe. The extra nylon had a keeper at its end through which the main part of the strap passed through after it had been looped behind the watch. This created a pocket, limiting the distance the watch could move. As long as the strap was passed through properly and snugly on the wrist, the watch would stay exactly where it was needed. The bonus feature of a strap that passes behind the watch is that in the event a spring bar breaks or pops out, the watch will still be secured by the other spring bar. Since 1973, the G10 strap has seen slight modifications. The current version has been downsized to 18mm ( this is due to the 18mm lugs found on the Cabot Watch Company 's military issue watch ) and now has stainless steel hardware. In 1978, a company known as Phoenix took over production of MoD - spec G10 straps, and would be the `` real deal '' if one was looking for it today. Not long after the simple `` Admiralty Grey '' G10 was issued, British military regiments began wearing straps honoring their respective regimental colors with stripes of all colors and combinations. One strap 's stripe pattern has become more famous than all the rest, but to call it a G10 or a `` NATO '' strap is actually a misnomer. When Sean Connery 's Bond famously wrist - checked his `` Big Crown '' Submariner ( reference 6538 ) in Goldfinger, he revealed a striped nylon strap. Aside from the obviously too - narrow width, the strap was notable because of its navy blue color with red and green stripes. Many watch enthusiasts have labeled this strap as the `` Bond NATO ''. Despite the strap 's similarities to a G10, Goldfinger began filming in 1964, nine years before the first MoD G10 strap was issued. Timeline issues aside, it is clear that the strap Connery wore had a very simple one - piece construction, not unlike that of a waist belt, and distinctly different than a true `` NATO '' or G10 strap. References ^ Jump up to : Montgomery, Florence M. ; Linda Eaton ( 2007 ). Textiles in America, 1650 - 1870. W.W. Norton & Company. p. 252. ISBN 0 - 393 - 73224 - X. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Kate Heinz Watson, Textiles and Clothing American School of Home Economics, Chicago : 1907 : pp 91 ( 1 ) Jump up ^ Banner, Bertha ( 1898 ). Household Sewing with Home Dressmaking. Longmans, Green, and co. p. 106. Retrieved July 10, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Thompson, Eliza Bailey ( 1922 ). Silk. The Ronald press company. pp. 134 -- 135. Retrieved July 10, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Lockwood, Georgene ( 1998 ). The Complete Idiot 's Guide to Crafts With Kids. Alpha Books. p. 86. ISBN 0 - 02 - 862406 - 8. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Cole, George S. ( 1892 ). A Complete Dictionary of Dry Goods and History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool. W.B. Conkey Co. p. 171. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Cheney Brothers, James Chittick, Emanuel Anthony Posselt, Berlitz Schools of Languages, A glossary of silk terms, including a short history of silk : its origin, culture and manufacture Cheney Brothers : 1915 Jump up ^ Joseph Shipley, Origins of English Words, JHU Press : 2001 ISBN 0 - 8018 - 6784 - 3, 671 pages : pp 121 Jump up ^ Merriam - Webster 's collegiate dictionary, Merriam - Webster Inc : pp 551 ^ Jump up to : Ernest Weekley, An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, Courier Dover Publications : 1967, ISBN 0 - 486 - 21873 - 2 : pp 668 Jump up ^ `` Grosgrain ''. The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. Jump up ^ Charles Talbut Onions, George Washington Salisbury Friedrichsen, R.W. Burchfield, The Oxford dictionary of English etymology, Clarendon P. : 1966 : 1025 pages Jump up ^ Textile World Record. Lord & Nagle Co. 1907. p. 118. Retrieved July 8, 2009. Jump up ^ William Dooley, Textiles for Commercial, Industrial and Domestic Arts Schools, D.C. Heath & Company : 1910 : pp. 223 ( 2 ) Jump up ^ de Winkel, Marieke ( 2006 ). Fashion and fancy. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 90 - 5356 - 917 - 0. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Macdonald, J ( 2004 ). Feeding Nelson 's Navy. Chatham Publishing. Jump up ^ Navy Victually Board Regulations and Instructions 14th editio. 1806. Jump up ^ Rodger, N ( 1986 ). The Wooden World : An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. William Collins. Jump up ^ Field, Jacqueline ; Marjorie Senechal ; Madelyn Shaw ( 2007 ). American silk, 1830 - 1930. Texas Tech University Press. p. 133. ISBN 0 - 89672 - 589 - 8. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Zelma Bendure, Gladys Bendure Pfeiffer, America 's fabrics : origin and history, manufacture, characteristics and uses, The Macmilln Company : 1946, 688 pages Jump up ^ Ellen Beers McGowan, Charlotte Augusta Waite, A... Textiles and clothing, Macmillan : 1919 : 268 pages Jump up ^ McCall 's Sewing Book, Random House : 1968 : 198, 224 ^ Jump up to : Shaeffer, Claire B. ( 2001 ). Couture sewing techniques. Taunton Press. ISBN 1 - 56158 - 497 - 5. Retrieved July 10, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Deckert, Barbara ( 2002 ). Sewing for plus sizes. Taunton Press. p. 100. ISBN 1 - 56158 - 551 - 3. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ McCall 's Sewing Book, Random House : 1968, 308 pages : pp 226 Jump up ^ Natalie Rothstein, Victoria and Albert Museum, Madeleine Ginsburg, Victoria and Albert Museum. Dept. of Textiles and Dress, Avril Hart, Philip Barnard, Valerie D. Mendes, Four hundred years of fashion : The Victoria and Albert Museum : Department of Textiles and Dress, Edition 2, Victoria and Albert Museum : 1992, ISBN 1 - 85177 - 116 - 6, 176 pages, pp 174 Jump up ^ Cynthia Marylee Molt, Gone with the Wind on film : a complete reference, McFarland & Co : 1990 ISBN 0899504396, 512 pages, pp. 150 : `` Jonas Wilkinson coat - dark - grey broadcloth. worn. Frock Coat. Double breasted, hemmed in black grosgrain '' ^ Jump up to : Esquire The Handbook of Style. Sterling Publishing Company. 2009. p. 34. ISBN 1 - 58816 - 746 - 1. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Zelma Bendure, Gladys Bendure Pfeiffer, America 's fabrics : origin and history, manufacture, characteristics and uses, The Macmillan Company : 1946, 688 pages. ^ Jump up to : Young, Laura S. ; Sidonie Coryn ; John Hurt Whitehead ; Jerilyn Glenn Davis ( 1995 ). Bookbinding & conservation by hand. Oak Knoll Press. p. 224. ISBN 1 - 884718 - 11 - 6. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Lee, Linda ( 2001 ). Sewing stylish home projects. Taunton Press. ISBN 1 - 56158 - 337 - 5. Retrieved July 10, 2009. Fabric Woven Aertex Airdura Airguard Barathea Barkcloth Batiste Bedford cord Bengaline Beta cloth Bombazine Brilliantine Broadcloth Buckram Bunting Burlap C change Calico Cambric Canvas Chambray Capilene Cedar bark Challis Char cloth Charmeuse Charvet Cheesecloth Chiffon Chino Chintz Cloqué Cloth of gold Cordura Corduroy Duck Coutil Crape Crêpe Cretonne Dazzle Denim Dimity Donegal tweed Dornix Dowlas Drill Drugget Eolienne Flannel Foulard Fustian Gabardine Gauze Gazar Georgette Ghalamkar Gingham Grenadine Grenfell Cloth Grosgrain Habutai Haircloth Harris Tweed Herringbone Himroo Hodden Irish linen Jamdani Kerseymere Khādī Khaki drill Kente cloth Lamé Lawn Linsey - woolsey Loden Longcloth Mackinaw Madapolam Madras Moleskin Muslin Nainsook Nankeen Ninon Oilskin Organdy Organza Osnaburg Ottoman Oxford Paduasoy Percale Pongee Poplin Rakematiz Rayadillo Rep Rinzu Ripstop Russell cord Saga Nishiki Samite Sateen Satin Saye Scarlet Seersucker Sendal Serge Scrim Shot silk Stuff Taffeta Tais Toile Tucuyo Tweed Twill Ultrasuede Vegetable flannel Ventile Vinyl coated polyester Viyella Voile Wadmal Wigan Whipcord Zephyr Zorbeez Figured woven Brocade Camlet Damask Lampas Songket Pile woven Baize Chenille Corduroy Crimplene Fustian Mockado Moquette Plush Polar fleece Terrycloth Velours du Kasaï Velvet Velveteen Zibeline Nonwoven Felt Cedar bark Knitted Boiled wool Coolmax Machine knitting Milliskin Jersey Velour Netted Bobbinet Carbon fiber Lace Mesh Needlerun net Ninon Tulle Technical Ballistic nylon Ban - Lon Conductive Darlexx E-textiles Gannex Gore - Tex Silnylon Spandex Stub - tex SympaTex Windstopper Patterns Argyle Bizarre silk Chiné Herringbone Houndstooth Paisley Pin stripes Polka dot Shweshwe Tartan ( plaid ) Tattersall Textile fibers Acrylic Alpaca Angora Cashmere Coir Cotton Eisengarn Hemp Jute Kevlar Linen Mohair Nylon Microfiber Olefin Pashmina Polyester Piña Ramie Rayon Sea silk Silk Sisal Spandex Spider silk Wool Finishing and printing Androsia Batik Beetling Bingata Bògòlanfini Burnout Calendering Decatising Devoré Finishing Fulling Heatsetting Mercerization Moire Nap Rogan printing Rōketsuzome Roller printing Sanforization Tenterhook Textile printing Warp printing Waxed cotton Woodblock printing Indienne Fabric mills Carlo Barbera Cerruti Dormeuil Drago Ermenegildo Zegna E. Thomas Holland & Sherry Larusmiani Loro Piana Reda Scabal Vitale Barberis Canonico Related Dyeing Fiber History of textiles History of silk Knitting Pandy Shrinkage Swatches and strike - offs Synthetic fabric Terminology Manufacturing Preservation Weaving Yarn Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grosgrain&oldid=785498821 '' Categories : Woven fabrics Hidden categories : Articles that may contain original research from September 2014 All articles that may contain original research Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Français Italiano Polski Slovenčina Svenska 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 13 June 2017, at 21 : 33. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: word linking with gros for a type of ribbon
Answer: Grosgrain