Selvedge Name

Definition and Overview

A selvedge name refers to text or symbols printed on the selvedges at both ends of a woven fabric. It is used for the fabric name, product number, and manufacturing-related information, and serves as supplementary information for identifying the contents of a bolt. It may also be called selvedge text or selvedge mark.

A selvedge name is not part of the fabric design itself, but an identification mark attached to the selvedge. For that reason, it is generally not intended to remain in the finished product after cutting. However, if the selvedge is designed to be visible, confirm in advance whether it may be used.

Uses in Transactions

When ordering, receiving, or inspecting fabric, the selvedge name is used as a reference for matching the product number and color number written on documents, sample bolts, and swatches. It helps prevent mix-ups when fabrics look similar or when multiple colors are handled at the same time.

When supplying bolts to a sewing factory, do not rely only on the selvedge name; also include the product number, color number, and lot information on each bolt identification tag and cutting instruction sheet. This is because the selvedge marking may become difficult to read depending on processing or storage conditions.

• At receipt, match it against the product number, color number, and quantity on the purchase order.
• During fabric inspection, link the selvedge name to the bolt management tag.
• Before cutting, check it together with the face and back, grain direction, and pattern direction.
• When supplying to a sewing factory, share identification information by bolt.

Points to Check and How to Handle Numbers

Even when there are numbers in the selvedge name, their meaning varies depending on the manufacturer or the fabric. They may indicate the product number, color number, lot number, or control number, so do not judge fabric width, length, fabric weight, or blend ratio from the numbers alone.

The cuttable dimensions of the fabric change depending on whether the width includes the selvedges or is the usable width excluding the selvedges. For quotations, material calculations, and marker making, use the usable width confirmed from the specification sheet or the actual fabric, not the location of the selvedge name.

Points to Avoid Misunderstandings

The presence or absence of a selvedge name, its wording, and whether it appears on the left or right selvedge may vary depending on the production period, color, and processing conditions even for the same product number. A fabric cannot be identified as different just because the selvedge name differs from the sample.

When keeping the selvedge visible as a design accent in a product, check the wording, direction, visible position, fraying at the selvedge edge, and texture. Some markings are not intended to be used as part of the design, so it is important to confirm with the supplier during the planning stage.

Differences from Similar Terms

The term selvedge refers to the edge portion of the woven fabric itself, while a selvedge name refers to the text or symbol printed on that selvedge. A woven label, on the other hand, is a woven name sewn onto apparel and other items, and differs in purpose and form from an identification mark on the fabric selvedge.

In selvedge denim, the selvedge describes the specification or characteristic of the fabric edge. A selvedge name does not refer to the structure of the selvedge, but mainly to the marking written for identification.

Frequently Asked Questions