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mackinaw wool. Ordinary grade of wool and often has shoddy re-used or remanufactured wool mixed in.  Sometimes a cotton warp is used.  

mackintosh raincoat.  A lightweight waterproof fabric originally of rubberized cotton.

macramé a coarse lace or fringe made by knotting threads or cords in a geometrical pattern.

madder  a moderate to strong red.

madras  a fine plain-woven shirting and dress fabric usually of cotton with varied designs (as plaid) in bright colors or in white; a light open usually cotton fabric.  Originated in Madras, India and it is a very old cloth. 

mae west  an inflatable life jacket in the form of a collar extending down the chest worn by fliers in World War II

magenta  deep purplish red.

mahogany a moderate reddish brown.

maillot  tights for dancers or gymnasts; jersey; a woman's one-piece bathing suit

malines  a fine stiff net with a hexagonal mesh that is usually made of silk or rayon and that is often used for veils (also, maline).

mandarin collar  a narrow stand-up collar usually open in front

manta  a square piece of cloth or blanket used in southwestern U.S. and Latin America usually as a cloak or shawl

manteau  a loose cloak, coat, or robe

mantle  a loose sleeveless garment worn over other clothes, cloak

mantelet  a very short cape or cloak

mantilla  a light scarf worn over the head and shoulders especially by Spanish and Latin-American women; a short light cape or coat

mantua  a usually loose-fitting gown especially in the 17th and 18th centuries

marabou a fabric made of marabou silk, namely a thrown silk usually dyed in the gum.

markdown price cut.  Reduction of original pricing.

marocain a ribbed crepe fabric used in women's clothing.

maroon  a variable color averaging a dark red.

marquisette   silk, cotton, rayon, synthetics.  A sheer meshed fabric used for clothing, curtains, and mosquito nets.  Very lightweight, open, sheer, mesh fabric. 

marseilles  a firm cotton fabric that is similar to piqué.

mask  a cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise

matelasse  French for "cushioned or padded".  Fabric woven on jacquard or dobby loom, in double cloth weave.   The pattern stands out and gives a "pouch" or "quilted" effect to the goods. Crepe yarn in double weave shrinks during finishing causing a blistering effect.

mauve  moderate purple, violet, or lilac; a strong purple.

maxi  a long skirt, dress, or coat

mechlin  a delicate bobbin lace used for dresses and millinery.

melighton  a heavy smooth woolen fabric with short nap.

melton   wool, sometimes combined with synthetics.  Twill or satin weave.  Thick well filled or felted wool with a smooth surface.  Napped and very closely sheared.  

menswear  clothing for men

merino  a soft wool or wool and cotton clothing fabric resembling cashmere.

mercerize a finishing process for combed cotton that increases the fiber’s luster and affinity for dyes.

merle  a bluish or reddish gray mixed with splotches of black that is the color of coats of some dogs.

merry widow  a strapless corset or bustier usually having garters attached

mesh  a woven, knit, or knotted material of open texture with evenly spaced holes.

messaline  a soft lightweight silk dress fabric with a satin weave.

mess jacket  a fitted waist-length man's jacket worn especially as part of a dress uniform

metallic  a fabric made with metallic fiber, namely a fiber or yarn made of or coated with metal.

metamerism  a metamerism occurs when the color standard and the submit do not match under all lighting conditions. This means that a solid color fabric when viewed under two different lights in a commercial light box, will appear to cast two different colors.

micromini  a very short miniskirt

middy a loosely fitting blouse with a sailor collar worn by women and children

midi  a dress, skirt, or coat that usually extends to the mid-calf

midnight blue  a deep blackish blue.

midriff  a woman's garment that exposes the midriff

milky  resembling milk in color.

millinery  women's apparel for the head

miniskirt  a woman's short skirt with the hemline several inches above the knee

miniver  a white fur worn originally by medieval nobles and used chiefly for robes of state

miter  a liturgical headdress worn by bishops and abbots (Also mitre)

miterfolds (label) are normally used in jerseys, bathrobes and outerwear and add functionality to the label by allowing it to be used as a hanger for the garment.

mitt  a woman's glove that leaves the fingers uncovered; mitten

mitten  a covering for the hand and wrist having a separate section for the thumb only

mixture a fabric woven of variously colored threads.

mobcap  a woman's fancy indoor cap made with a high full crown and often tied under the chin

moccasin  a soft leather heelless shoe or boot with the sole brought up the sides of the foot and over the toes where it is joined with a puckered seam to a U-shaped piece lying on top of the foot.

mocha a dark chocolate-brown color.

modacrylic fiber  a manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of less than 84% but at least 50% by weight of acrylonitrile units. Fake Furs are often made out of this fiber.

mohair  from the angora goat.   Some has cotton warp and mohair filling (sometimes called brilliantine).   Imitation mohair made from wool or a blend. 

moiré  a fabric having a wavy watered appearance.  Fairly stiff with body in most cases. 

moleskin a heavy durable cotton fabric with a short thick velvety nap on one side.

monkey jacket  mess jacket

monk's cloth  a coarse heavy fabric in 4 X 4 basket weave made originally of worsted and used for monk's habits, but now chiefly of cotton or linen and used for draperies.

montero  a round hunter's cap with ear flaps

moquette an upholstery fabric having a velvety pile.

moreen  a strong fabric of wool, wool and cotton, or cotton with a plain glossy or moiré finish.

morion  a high-crested helmet with no visor

mortar board  an academic cap consisting of a closely fitting headpiece with a broad flat projecting square top

moss crepe   mossy crepe or sand crepe (trade mark).   Has a fine moss effect created by plain weave or small Dobby.  Made with a spun-rayon warp and a filament rayon filling.

moss green a variable color averaging a mod yellow-green.

mother hubbard  a loose usually shapeless dress

motley  a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries.

mousseline a fine sheer fabric (as of rayon) that resembles muslin.

mousseline de soie  a silk muslin having a crisp finish.  Sheer, open, and lightweight.  It is something like chiffon but with a crisp finish produced by sizing.

mousy  grayish brown.

mozzetta  a short cape with a small ornamental hood worn over the rochet by Roman Catholic prelates

muff  a warm tubular covering for the hands

muffler  a scarf worn around the neck

mukluk  a sealskin or reindeer-skin boot worn by Eskimos; a boot often of duck with a soft leather sole and worn over several pairs of socks

mulberry  a dark purple or purplish black.

mule  a shoe or slipper without quarter or heel strap [Compare scuff]

mull  a soft fine sheer fabric of cotton, silk, or rayon.

musette  a small knapsack; also, a similar bag with one shoulder strap [also musette bag]

muslin a plain-woven sheer to coarse cotton fabric.

mustard a dark to moderate yellow.