Corduroy fabric comes in a variety of options based on the size and spacing of the wales (the raised ridges/cords on the fabric). Not only will the wale size affect the look of the fabric, but also the softness (with finer wales being softer). Corduroy, as we know it today, has a rich sartorial history that first began with an ancient Egyptian weave called ‘fustian.’ However, once the global cotton trade expanded into Europe throughout the 12th and 14th centuries, it began to encompass any and all types of textiles featuring a raised texture and a cotton-based construction. As such, by the 18th Century, there were many varieties of fustian on the market, with more opulent examples deemed suitable for royalty and lesser alternatives competing with woolamongst the masses. It was around this time that the fabric was finally dubbed ‘corduroy’ — a name taken from the French phrase corde du roi(or “cloth of kings”). corduroy history