Orleans is a traditional plain-woven textile that combines a strong cotton warp with a worsted wool weft. The resulting cloth is durable, relatively lightweight, and was historically popular for making sturdy everyday clothing and linings.
Heard on the job
The museum replica dress is constructed from Orleans to match the original textile specifications.
Related terms
Worsted
A smooth, compact yarn spun from long, combed wool fibers.
Warp
The set of lengthwise yarns held in tension on a loom before weaving begins.
Weft
The transverse yarns inserted over and under the warp to create a woven fabric.
Cotton
A soft, staple textile fiber grown in bolls around the seeds of the cotton plant.