WHAT IS SELVEDGE (SELVAGE) DENIM?

Selvedge (or selvage) comes from the phrase "self-edge" which refers to the edge being finished by the
loom instead of sewn together after weaving. Selvedge is the term commonly used to refer to denim that
has been produced on a shuttle loom. Since the amount of fabric produced from a shuttle loom is
significantly narrower than a projectile (wide) loom, the cotton consumption is higher and the
manufacturing time required is greater. Our selvedge denim usually has a red thread running vertically
down the cloth, this identifier is know as the selvedge ID. We use other selvedge fabrics, for example
chambray, for shirts and other garments, which have different selvedge IDs.

Types Of Selvedge Designs

There are several types of selvedge designs that are used for this purpose with shuttleless looms. The kind of selvedge
used depends upon economy of production and the expected use of the fabric.

Plain Selvedges
These selvedges are constructed of the simple plain weave with the same size yarns as the rest of the fabric, but with the threads
packed more closely together.

Tape Selvedges
The tape selvedges are sometimes constructed with the plain weave but often are made of the basket or twill weaves, which
makes a flatter edge. Tape selvedges are made of heavier yarns or ply yarns, which provide greater strength.
Split Selvedges
These are made by weaving a narrow width fabric twice its ordinary width with two selvedges in the centre. The fabric is then cut
between the selvedges, and the cut edges are finished with a chain stitch or hemming. Split selvedges are used when items such
as towels are woven side by side and cut apart after weaving.

Fused Selvedges
These selvedges are made on fabrics of thermoplastic fibres, such as polypropylene, nylon, etc., by pressing a hot mechanical
element on the edges of the fabric. The fibres melt and fuse together, sealing the edges.
Leno Selvedges
The leno selvedges are obtained by binding the wefts with strong additional threads working in leno or gauze weave and by
eliminating through cutting the protruding weft ends. Half cross leno weave fabrics have excellent shear resistance. They are
made with special leno weaving harnesses. The leno selvedge is used on some shuttleless looms.

Tucked-In Selvedges
The tucked selvedge is a technique used on some shuttleless looms. A device is used to tuck and hold the cut ends into the fabric
edge. In tucked-in selvedge, the fringed edges of the weft yarns are woven back into the body of the fabric using a special tuck-in
mechanism. As a result, the weft density is doubled in the selvedge area. The tucked-in selvedge was being only used for
projectile weaving machines in the past; however, it is now also applied to other shuttleless weaving machines.