Marcella

Marcella fabric is a stiff fabric made using a ‘pique’ or ‘marcella’ weaving style. It is generally made using cotton yarns. Marcella fabric can be identified by the raised, parallel cords or fine ribbing. It is a close relative of cotton twill. This fabric holds more starch than regular cotton, so it was used for shirt fronts as it has a crisper appearance. The term Marcella is a variation on the word ‘Marseille,’ a place in France where Provençal quilts were made. The Marcella fabric was originally made as an imitation of these quilts which were corded. Marcella is a double cloth, meaning it looks the same on both sides.