Where does Moquette come from?

Moquette comes from France, first documented in the 1700s.

Plate No. 148fabric

The dense, abrasion-proof woven pile of the bus and train seat.

First documented: 1700s
Origin: France, France
Fiber: wool, nylon
Weave: dense woven pile, cut or looped
Family: pile

Plate No. 148 · fabric

Moquette

Moquette is a hard-wearing woven pile fabric, traditionally wool, built tough enough to survive decades of abrasion, which is why it became the cloth of public transport: the patterned seat covering of buses, trams, and underground trains. Its dense looped or cut pile hides dirt and wear, and the bold geometric patterns woven into it, a tradition in itself among transit authorities, are designed to disguise stains while brightening a carriage. The same durable pile also covers theater and cinema seats and traditional upholstery.

Illustration: the interior of a vintage double-decker bus or tram, rows of seats covered in bold patterned woven pile, worn brass rails and steamed-up windows, a single passenger as a distant silhouette — The interior of a vintage double-decker bus or tram, rows of seats covered in bold patterned woven pile, worn brass rails and steamed-up windows, a single passenger as a distant silhouette.

Named for

From the French moquette, a carpet or pile cloth, possibly from an older word for a tuft of wool.

Common questions

What is Moquette made of?: Moquette is a hard-wearing woven pile fabric, traditionally wool, built tough enough to survive decades of abrasion, which is why it became the cloth of public transport: the patterned seat covering of buses, trams, and underground trains.
Where does Moquette come from?: Moquette comes from France, first documented in the 1700s.
What is Moquette named after?: From the French moquette, a carpet or pile cloth, possibly from an older word for a tuft of wool.