The materials and fabrics used in Elizabethan clothing were extremely significant in providing information about the person wealth and the type of fabric a person’s wear considered to be the main indicator of social status. For instance, a person who wore clothes made of expansive fabrics such as taffeta, silk or lace would be immediately recognized as upper class, either noble or a member of the royal family. On the other hand, People from the lower classes usually wore clothes that made of linen, wool and sheepskin.

Expensive Material & Fabrics

The Elizabethan upper classes including royalty and nobles wore clothing that made of taffeta, furs, lace, silks, velvets and cottons. Also, the fabrics worn by the nobility came in a variety of colors and the dyes used for coloring these materials were very expensive. For example, the red color dye it suggested that it came from a mediterranean insect that produces a bright ruby color.​

inexpensive Material & Fabrics

The Elizabethan lower classes including peasants had to wear clothes that are made of wool, sheepskin and linen. However, taffeta, velvet, silk trimmings were permitted.

Slashing Material & Fabrics

Because of the limited access to materials and fabrics at that time, led many people to use technique called slashing which is new fashion that been created in the late of the sixteenth century. The slashing technique is cutting in the outer surfaces of a dress for women or doublet for men and the underneath fabrics are exposed. These linings beneath the actual fabric pulled out and puffed and that creates contrast of colors and materials. ​

Common Elizabethan Material & Fabrics

Buckram, Cambric, Brocade, Calico, Canvas, Cypress, Corduroy, Damask, Flannel, Grogram, Felt, Holland, Gauze, Linen, Plush, Velvet, Russet, Lawn, Silk, Sarcenet, Tabbinet, Satin Tabby, Tiffany, Lockram, Shag and Taffeta. ​