TEXTILE ABBREVIATIONS

Fabric labels often have abbreviations and some of these generally accepted abbreviations are for non-English words. So here is a handy little reference chart showing what all those abbreviations mean. Please comment if any are missing.

AB - Abaca
AC - Acetate
AF - Other fibres
AG - Alginate
AL - Alfa
AR - Aramid
AS - Asbestos
CA - True hemp
CC - Coir
CL - Chlorofibre
CMD or MD - Modal
CLY or MY - Lyocell
CO - Cotton
CU - Cupro
CV or VI - Viscose
EA or EL - Elastane/Spandex
FL - Flourofibre
GI - Broom
GL - Glass fibre
HA - Hair or Hemp
HE - Henequen
HL - Cotton linen / pure cotton warp - pure flax
HR - Cattle hair
HS - Horsehair
HZ - Common goat hair
JU - Jute
KE - Kenaf
KP - Kapoc
LI - Flax / linen
MA - Modacrylic
ME - Metal fibre/ Metallic
MG - Maguey
PA - Polyimide / Nylon®
PB - Polycarbamide
PC - Acrylic
PE - Polyethylene
PES or PL or PBT - Polyester
PI - Paper Yarn
PM - Polyimide or polyester
PP - Polypropylene
PR - Protein
PU or PUR - Polyurethane
RA - Ramie
SE Silk
SI - Sisal
SN - Sunn
TA - Triacetate
TR - Mixed fibres / unspecified textile composition
TV - Trivinyl
VY - Vinylal
WA - Angora
WB - Beaver
WC - Cashgora
WG - Vicuna
WK - Camel
WL - Llama
WM - Mohair (Goat) Wool
WO - Wool (Sheep by default)
WP - Alpaca
WS - Cashmere Goat a.k.a. Kaschmir and Cachemire and (incorrectly) Kashmir
WT - Otter
WU - Guanaco
WV - Fleece wool / virgin wool
WY - Yak