Definition
The selvage is the edge of a woven fabric. At each edge, the weft yarn reverses direction. As a result, selvages are often stiffer than the rest of the fabric. They are therefore generally not used in the finished product.
Use in the textile industry
In garment manufacturing and tailoring, the selvage serves as a reference line during cutting, since it runs parallel to the warp yarns and thus indicates the grain direction of the woven fabric. During further processing, the selvage is generally trimmed away, as its increased stiffness would impair workability and the wearing behavior of the finished product. In narrow-fabric weaving, however, the selvage is deliberately incorporated as both a design and functional element of the end product — for example in labels, straps, and ribbons.
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