Linen glossary

Percale

Percale is a tight, plain-weave cotton (or polycotton) fabric of at least 78 threads per square inch, giving a matte, smooth cloth that feels cool to the touch. It is the reference weave of the hotel industry: its density gives it high mechanical resistance to repeated washing and calendering, and its matte face keeps a crisp look even after dozens of cycles.

Not to be confused with a fibre: "percale" describes how the fabric is woven, not what it is made of. A percale can be 100% cotton or 50/50 polycotton — the latter combines percale's dry, crisp hand with polyester's easy care (fast drying, minimal ironing), which is why hotels worldwide adopted it for their white sheets.