A fabric finish or weave that creates permanent wrinkles or irregular surface texture, often achieved through chemical treatment or special weaving.
From Middle English 'crinklen', meaning 'to bend' or 'wind'. The modern textile application developed in the 20th century with advances in chemical finishing and synthetic fibers.
Crinkle fabrics were a godsend for busy modern life – they're literally designed to look wrinkled, so you never have to iron them! The technique became hugely popular in the 1980s when 'wash and wear' became a selling point, turning fabric's natural tendency to wrinkle into a feature, not a bug.
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