How is Moleskin manufactured?
Moleskin is a fustian fabric, which are fabrics that include piled heavy cotton fabrics. It is produced primarily with a strong cotton warp and weft and densely woven with either a twill or satin weft-faced weave. The warp and weft yarns are commonly the same color to produce an even finish. Finally, the loomstate fabric is stretched, brushed, and sheared on the weft-face to create the luxurious nap that lends Moleskin it’s likeness to the fur of a mole.
Proper Moleskin requires an extremely dense weft-weave. This particular weave specification exerts so much force that normal looms are not equipped to manufacture premium grades. Only a few historic mills remain that have the old high-strength looms or reinforced looms required to produce the best qualities. The weave is so dense that a loom can only produce 500 meters/week of the highest quality. The manufacturing process requires great care and attention to detail, and only a few of these historic mills are still around today.