Corduroy is a textile with a distinctively raised "cord" or wale texture. Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel (bare to the base fabric) between them. Both velvet and corduroy derive from fustian fabric. Corduroy looks as if it is made from multiple cords laid parallel to each other. Etymology The word corduroy is from cord and duroy, a coarse woollen cloth made in England in the 18th century. Although the origin of duroy is not attested and although its likely meaning is du roi (of the King), it does not follow that the full phrase corde du roi derives from the cord of the King. This is probably a false etymology. Variations Corduroy is made by weaving extra sets of fibre into the base fabric to form vertical ridges called wales. The wales are built so that clear lines can be seen when they are cut into pile. Corduroy is considered a durable cloth, and is found in the construction of trousers, jackets and shirts. The width of the wales varies between fabric styles, and is specified by wale count—the number of wales per inch. The lower the number, the thicker the wales' width (e.g., 4-wale is much thicker than 11-wale). Wale count per inch can vary from 1.5 to 21, although the traditional standard is usually between 10 and 12. Wide wale is more commonly used in trousers and furniture upholstery (primarily couches); medium, narrow, and fine wale fabrics are usually found in garments worn above the waist. The primary types of corduroy are: Standard wale, at 11 wales/inch, available in many colours Pincord (also called pinwale or needlecord), the finest cord, with a count at the upper end of the spectrum (above 16) Pigment dyed/printed corduroy, where the fabric is coloured or printed with pigment dyes. The dye is applied to the surface, then the garment is cut and sewn. When washed during the final manufacturing phase, the pigment dye washes out in an irregular way, creating a vintage look. Because of these subtle colour variations, no two garments of pigment-dyed corduroy are exactly alike, and their colour becomes softer with each washing. Corduroy is traditionally used in making British country clothing, even though its origin lies in items worn by townspeople in industrial areas. Although it has existed for a long time and has been used in Europe since the