What is "grosgrain"

Grosgrain \Gros"grain`\, a. [F. Cf. Grogram.] Of a coarse texture; -- applied to silk with a heavy thread running crosswise.

n. 1 A silk fabric having narrow, horizontal ribs. 2 A close-woven fabric (usually made from silk or rayon) having narrow horizontal ribs. 3 A ribbon made of this fabric.

n. a silk or silklike fabric with crosswise ribs

Grosgrain , 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.