Named for its resemblance to the backbone of a herring fish, herringbone is a broken twill weave composed of vertical sections of diagonal lines that are alternately righthand and lefthand in direction, creating a fishbone pattern.

It is used widely in suits, jackets, and dresses. It can also be found in home furnishings, as upholstery.

Cotton herringbone fabrics are easy to maintain.

Herringbone can wrinkle, like other cotton bottomweights, but may be finished with wrinkle-resistant technology that will help offset the wrinkling. A quick ironing on a cotton setting will finish a garment for a crisp look.

Depending on the garment, herringbone is easy to care for at home. The construction should help resist some dirt and staining. Suits and jackets may still need to be dry cleaned, but can be worn multiple times between cleanings with airing out between wears.