Plural of faille; a soft, smooth fabric with a slight rib or sheen, commonly used in clothing and upholstery.
From French 'faille', possibly derived from an Old French word. The fabric has a distinctive crosswise rib and was popular in European textile manufacturing since the Renaissance.
Faille fabric was so prized by wealthy people in the 1700s and 1800s that it was used for fancy dresses and even decorating furniture—the subtle sheen and soft feel made it seem more luxurious than it actually was!
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