Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that has a napped, fuzzy, finish on one or both sides. This napped finish either comes from brushing or from its characteristic loose weave. Its soft, cozy feel makes it the perfect fabric to keep you warm and comfortable all winter long.

In its earliest days in the United States, flannel was used during the Civil War as an inexpensive, sturdy material for soldiers' basic coats and undershirts. Although it was easily accepted as a working man's fabric, the credit for its surge in popularity goes to Hamilton “Ham” Carhartt.

It's a woven fabric typically made from cotton or wool. It's often brushed for a soft, almost fuzzy texture. However, flannel shirts can also be unbrushed or brushed on only one side. These shirts typically have a thicker weave than other cotton shirts, making them perfect for colder weather.

Flannel clothing would hold up against harsh weather and arduous work. The gritty images of railroad workers and lumberjacks in plaid flannel shirts working on these massive projects were popularized through the media and became synonymous with the American prospector.

History of Flannel Shirts While the origin of the word “Flannel” is uncertain, it is most likely that it came from the Welsh word gwlanen, meaning “woolen cloth”. Due to the differentiation in sound, some suggest that it actually originated from the Old French word flaine “a kind of coarse wool.”

flannel noun (CLOTHING) a light cloth usually made from wool, used especially for making trousers, skirts, or suits : He was wearing a grey flannel suit. trousers made of light wool cloth: Traditionally, white flannels are worn when playing cricket.

And like cotton, flannel is breathable: it allows air circulation and helps wick away moisture from your skin. Most of us would agree that flannel also feels exceptionally warm. Cotton sheets, by contrast, promise the maximum amount of air circulation, and can actually help you stay cool in the heat.

Research shows that the first flannel was manufactured in the UK and widely used in France in the 17th century. Flannel has been a famous fabric for three centuries, and people love the loosely woven fabric due to its warmness, softness, and comfort.

Flannels is a prominent British multi-brand retailer. The company currently has 45 locations open in the United Kingdom. Flannels' carefully curated selection of designer apparel, accessories, and footwear has earned it a reputation among fashion enthusiasts for offering iconic brands and cutting-edge styles.

And like cotton, flannel is breathable: it allows air circulation and helps wick away moisture from your skin. Most of us would agree that flannel also feels exceptionally warm. Cotton sheets, by contrast, promise the maximum amount of air circulation, and can actually help you stay cool in the heat.

It's a popular fabric, praised for its softness, warmth, and durability. Woven from wool or cotton - or created with synthetic materials - you find it in the form of flannel shirts, jackets, pajamas, pants, suits, and even bedsheets. It works best as a layering component, keeping the skin dry, insulated, and warm.

Flannel is a material, not a pattern The term flannel actually refers to the weave of the clothing– the fabric. Flannel is a thicker fabric than others, usually made up of a cotton-wool weave. It's also woven more loosely than most other fabrics.

Here is the answer: the difference is that "plaid" is a pattern and "flannel" is a type of fabric. Usually both concepts mix as when you imagine a flannel shirt you build it in your mind as a checkered or plaid shirt.