The way a fabric hangs, folds and moves under its own weight.
Drape describes the shape fabric takes as gravity pulls it into hanging folds. It concerns how the material behaves, whereas handfeel concerns the sensations it gives when touched. A fabric’s behaviour in a finished garment also depends on how it is cut and supported, so a flat fabric assessment cannot describe every aspect of the finished silhouette. ISO 9073-9 specifies a method for determining a drape coefficient for woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics. This provides a measured way to compare drapability alongside the practical observation of folds during garment development or fitting.
In job listings
The word is most used by designers, pattern makers and fabric developers, and sometimes refers to the technique of shaping fabric on a form. Stylists and sales staff use it to describe how a garment will move. Search local jobs for “fashion”.
