Chinchilla cloth can be a confusing name for a fabric, given that it contains no chinchilla fur or fur fiber. A friend of mine speculated that it is called chinchilla cloth because chinchillas would rather you wear it than their fur! The real reason for the name? Read on... Constructed like fleece with a long nap, chinchilla cloth is given a machine finish which rubs the nap into nubs. It is made of wool or wool blends, and the warp may be cotton for strength. The town of Chinchilla, Spain, is where the present fabric was first made. Uses: Coats, hats See also: Fleece Chinchilla cloth in ads from 1928 1935 (the fabric seems to have been used for children's clothing quite a lot). It is known for being soft and hard-wearing. The nap isn't easily worn down. 1939 1949 1954 1962 Searching on newspapers.com, you can find 1970s ads for chinchilla cloth coats, and then a single mention in the 1980s (1987). Then the fabric doesn't come up. This is my own late 1960s chinchilla cloth coat This 1950s coat I sold some time ago. (That “100% Sheeps Wool” might be directed at the confusion possible with the fabric’s name.) Another friend of mine had a different idea for why it is called chinchilla cloth. Say chinchillachinchillachinchillachinchilla. He says that's what the machine that makes the nubby nap sounds like in action.
So am I the only person who has never heard of such a duck (or chinchilla)? Interesting! Thanks Maggie!
This is a new term for me too. But, I have seen the fabric. I have children's coats of this fabric from the 30s and up.
I'm sure you aren't the only duck Victoria! It's a nice one to know because it is so distinctive. It's also really nice to wear.
I have never heard of this fabric either, so once again we learn!!! I more than likely have had it but did not know what it was called. Thanks, Maggie.
Just to clarify - or confuse. There is a little fur bearing animal named chinchilla. There has been get rich quick fads for growing them for fur in some decades in the past. No, no, no, I do not want one for a pocket pet! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla https://www.livescience.com/28131-chinchillas.html Enjoy, Marian
Yes, the little furry chinchilla has no connection, although chinchilla fur coats have certainly been made.
Something new to me too! I knew about the animals and have heard of chinchilla fur coats, but the fabric is a new one for me!
