Charcoal 14 Wale Needlecord

Corduroy is a durable, soft, and textured fabric with a distinctive raised ribbed surface. The size of these ridges is called a wale—the lower the number, the wider the ridges; the higher the number, the finer they are! This is because wale counts the ridges per inch! Most corduroy is made from cotton, although you can find it blended with polyester or other fibres for durability or stretch. It can be printed, yarn dyed or a block colour, which ever you pick, we like to think of it as an everyday velvet! For our purposes, we’ll be talking about cord as if it were 100% cotton.

Corduroy’s origins trace back to ancient Egypt, where a similar woven pile fabric called fustian was produced in the city of Fustat. This cloth evolved over centuries, becoming a staple in 18th-century England where Manchester mills perfected its distinctive texture—hence the nickname Manchester cloth. It was prized for workwear due to its warmth, strength, and resistance to wear, and later became a fashion favourite for trousers, jackets, and overalls.

Corduroy is woven with a warp and weft like most fabrics, but with an additional set of fibres forming vertical floats. These floats are then cut, creating the pile that forms the characteristic ribs. This results in a soft surface with depth and texture, perfect for trapping warmth. Its durability, versatility, and retro charm have made it a beloved fabric for decades—equally at home in country fields, university lecture halls, or on the high street.

We love corduroy for its soft handle, rich colours, and that wonderful tactile quality that makes you want to run your fingers along the ribs.