Chamoline

/ˈkæməlɪn/ noun

Definition

A soft, lightweight fabric woven to resemble chamois leather, often made from cotton or wool fibers.

Etymology

Possibly derived from chamois with a suffix indicating texture or type. This appears to be a 19th-century textile trade term, though its exact etymology is uncertain.

Kelly Says

Chamoline was marketed to the Victorian middle class as affordable luxury—advertisements promised 'the softness of Alpine chamois at the price of cotton,' which was one of the earliest successful marketing strategies using aspirational comparison!

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