MOIRE

"Moire is a ribbed or corded woven fabric which has been subjected to heat or heavy presuure (originally from stones weighing as much as 30 tons), to create a rippled appearance, often referred to as 'watered'. This arises as a result of the differences in reflection between the flattened and the unaffected areas. Moire fabrics are believed to date back as far as ancient Egypt, and by the 17th century had become a major industry in England and France."

Source: Dickson, Elana, de la Haye, Amy, Dodd, Eugenie, Lorenz, Rolf (eds), Textile Tales, boxed set of cards, Published by TextileTales 2003, textiletales@blueyonder.co.uk