Drape

How fabric hangs and falls. Soft drape flows; stiff drape holds shape. Less relevant for towels than garments.

Drape describes how fabric hangs and falls when suspended - whether it flows fluidly or holds its shape stiffly.

Types of Drape

Soft/fluid drape: Fabric falls smoothly, follows contours. Silk, viscose, lightweight cotton.

Stiff/crisp drape: Fabric holds shape, stands away from body. Canvas, heavy denim.

In Towels

Drape is less critical for towels than for garments, but affects:

  • How towel hangs on rails
  • Wrapping behaviour
  • Peshtemal vs terry differences

Peshtemal Example

Peshtemals drape well because:

  • Flat weave
  • Thin construction
  • Can be worn as sarong

Terry towels have minimal drape due to thickness.

Measurement

Drape is measured using drape coefficient testing, but in practice, consumers judge it by touch and observation.

Related Pages