Gingham

Gingham is traditionally a plain-weave cotton fabric. Its checked pattern is created by weaving yarns that were dyed before weaving rather than printing the checks afterward.

The pattern comes from crossing pre-dyed warp and weft yarns in contrasting colors. Where the yarns overlap, the fabric creates the familiar alternating checked effect.

Gingham was originally imported into Europe from Southeast Asia during the seventeenth century. It later became a widely used casual fabric around the world.

Gingham is a type of checked textile, while plaid is a broader category that can include more complex stripes and color arrangements. Classic gingham usually has a simple, regular check made with a plain weave.