

This new technique of weaving helped simplify the process of manufacturing fabric, especially when it came to complex patterns such as brocades and damasks.īrocadeis often defined as a lavish, highly decorative fabric that, due to the intricacy with which they are woven, can be on the higher end of the textile price range. Though more often than not the Jacquard looms of today are computerized, the loom Jacquard originally developed was controlled by a chain of punched cards (think player piano) laced together into a continuous sequence, with the rows of holes on each card corresponding to one row of the design. Jacquard is not only a type of fabric, but is also a clever Frenchman by the name of Joseph Marie Jacquardwho in 1801 revolutionized textile production with his invention, the Jacquard loom. However, it can help to understand the difference between them and how they relate to one another. Oft times, the terms brocade, damask, and jacquard, get used interchangeably, which, to be fair is understandable – they’re all relatively similar.
