Jacquard is a type of fabric with an intricately woven pattern. The pattern is not embroidered but woven directly into the fabric. Available in many styles and colors, Jacquard has varying finesse as per the quality of fabric used. Jacquard is woven on a special loom, which also produces other fabrics like brocade and damask. Jacquard is mainly used in making Jacquard sarees like brocade, and as upholstery fabrics.

Jacquard Weave uses a loom with an attachment. This attachment is called a ‘Jacquard head,’ and was first produced in the early 19th Century by the French inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard, hence where the name comes from.

The Jacquard head on the loom enables the control of individual warp threads through the use of cards punched with holes. The reason that the Jacquard loom was an important invention was because it enables the weaver to create large pattern repeats. It also means that complex, elaborate patterns can be created.

Warp is individually controlled with each pick passage creating intricate designs

Nowadays Jacquard looms are controlled by computer, rather than using Punch cards. This means that patterns can be created with much less human input. It also means that the patterns are very accurate. Other fabrics produced on a Jacquard loom are Damask, Matelasse and Brocade.

Linen products associated with Jacquard weaving are linen damasknapery, 

Jacquard apparel fabrics and damask bed linen. Jacquard weaving of course uses all sorts of fibers and blends of fibers, and it is used in the production of fabrics for many end uses.

This fabric can be further sub-divided into the following 3 commonly found fabrics:

It is an elaborately patterned raised fabric woven with multi-coloured threads producing rich designs. Popularly used in fashion clothing and upholstery, it is usually heavier than most fabrics.

Originally a heavy rich silk fiber ornaments with raised figures formed by extra threads or by embroidery. Mostly used for upholstery fabrics and draperies.

A more fine and sheer version of Brocade, the Damask is also a patterned fabric which is woven mostly with single color. It is generally used in fiber blends or synthetic fiber production.

Fabric with a weft sateen figures on a warp satin, twist or plain grained, made of silk, cotton, rayon and linen yarns Damasks are reversible. Cotton and linen damasks are made either with four yarn float or a seven yarn float in the satin weave. The Longer floats are more lustrous, but the shorter floats are more durable.

Manufactured using cotton, silk or rayon, this fabric has a quilted effect and a stretchy surface.

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