Fil coupé: understanding this textured textile

Explore rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves with Eastern Accents' newest launch, San Savino. Inspired by the sun-soaked Tuscan countryside, this collection pairs a embroidered Euro shams, a textured bed scarf, layered trims, and sheer draperies to create a natural, yet elevated, aesthetic. 

Sprinkled across this collection — from the scarf, to decorative pillows, to curtain panels — is a fringe-textured fabric that resembles an embroidered pattern. Featuring a frayed edge design, the fabric adds dimension, texture, and unique hand to the bed. You might even have noticed this type of textile across our line, not just in San Savino. But what exactly is fil coupé? And how else can it be used in home decor? 

What is fil coupé?

Pronounced FILL-COO-PAY, it is a textile technique where certain threads in a woven fabric are cut to create texture, a raised pattern, or fringe effect. The name literally means "cut thread" in French! 

Pictured right is Eastern Accents' Terranova Gold fabric. Close up you can see its delicate, textural detailing. First woven with a diamond pattern, the soft gold threads are then cut to reveal the cream base below, resulting in a fabric with a luxurious, tactile surface. The effect may resemble embroidery, but is actually achieved through weaving. 

While the exact origins are unknown, the technique was developed after the invention of the Jacquard weaving machine in 1804, which allowed for the creation of complex fabric patterns. A ‘jacquard’ is a fabric made on a this type of loom, that has a design or motif woven directly into the material. Fil coupé is an extension of the jacquard process, with select threads in the pattern being cut after weaving. 

Pictured below are two textiles often confused with fil coupé, embroidery and standard jacquard. Both feature complex patterns, but with different production processes. 

Terranova Gold, a fil coupé fabric used in our San Savino collection

 Not Fil Coupé...

Embroidered fabric Camden Citron. The beige base is woven and the colorful stitched sections are added later.

Jacquard fabric Adobo Charcoal. The black and tan fibers are woven in a geometric pattern while on the loom.

Home decor 

This craft is known for its use in fashion fabrics, due to the unique and often ornate results. As weaving has evolved over the years, these fabrics have become softer, more durable, and sometimes even washable. Today, our designers are able to develop countless bedding styles using frilly fil coupé — incorporating layered patterns, bohemian fringe, and bold focal points into our luxury bedding collections. Here’s a peek at some ways you can include this textured textile in your home. 

Bed scarves

A bed scarf is an easy yet impactful way to incorporate texture and pattern without redesigning a whole room. Sometimes a pop of color is all you need to refresh your space. Infuse simple bedding with bohemian flair. The jewel-toned pattern of our Montaigne Bed Scarf catches the eye with fringe-like details and shining sheer sections, while plush batting creates luxurious loft. Or invite soft gold texture to your bedding collection with our San Savino Bed Scarf, whose eye-catching diamond pattern and fringe details add comforting warmth to the foot of the bed. Our Sprouse collection boasts impressive plumage from its feather-print Euro shams to feathery-textured bed scarf. Set against a versatile gray backdrop, its earth-toned fil coupé grounds the bed in a rich, livable aesthetic. This chic fabric technique works wonders with any style.  

Curtain panels 

Unlined fil coupé can make a wonderful alternative to traditional sheer curtain panels. Due to the nature of its construction, there are often semi-sheer sections in these fabrics that can filter light beautifully. Invite this charming texture to your living space with our San Savino Curtain Panel. Its cream and gold color palette creates comforting warmth, while the diamond pattern catches the eye with fringe detail. Or brighten a room with our Penelope Curtain Panel, its subtle polka dot construction and crisp white color are perfect compliment to a sunny day. These semi-sheer panels can be hung through the curtain rod or on drapery rings for an elevated touch. 

Kids' decor 

A pop of fringe and strategic pattern mixing can be the perfect whimsical addition to a kid’s room. Breathe a little life into your child’s sheeting with playful Fiddlesticks. This 100% cotton sheet set features muted green, yellow, and blue dots woven with broken pinstripes in a frilly texture. Fiddlesticks' fun-loving pillowcases, flat sheet, and fitted sheet are perfect for whimsical rooms everywhere.

Looking for a full room refresh? Have some fun with the playful geometrics and saturated pastels of Phineas. Whether completing a colorful contemporary aesthetic or taking centerstage in a stylish kid's room, this playful collection offers a spirited take on modern design. Or channel a livable, coastal aesthetic in your kids' decor with versatile Max. This bed is charming and functional in washable gingham sheeting, cotton matelasse, and fil-coupe Euro shams. Check out our Mimi and Rey mashups for even more frilly and fun kid’s room inspo! 

Beach chic

Fil coupé often leans towards light and casual texture, a perfect pairing with seashell prints and sandy dunes. Our Evangeline Textured Decorative Pillow in a beachy tan colorway is an ideal layering piece, the airy fringe texture adding interest without overpowering. Meanwhile— sun, sea, and sand reflect off of Mykonos. Bask in layers of exquisite texture with the fringed diamonds, geometric embroidery, and playful ball trims of this idyllic blue and white collection. The breezy white Shastina Snow textile recalls the natural beauty and carefree charm of the Mediterranean, and our designers couldn’t help but use it in our High Tide and Laguna collections too. Make your beach getaway into an ideal oasis with any of these chic styles. 

 If you want to use frilly fringed texture for your next project, Eastern Accents offers fabrics by fabrics by the yard along with plenty of other soft home goods. With a wide variety of patterns and colors to choose from, we are confident you can discover the ideal match for your unique style!