Typically a wool-based cloth, felt is also made from cotton and synthetic fibers. The primary determinant for felt cloth is that it is a compressed and densely matted non-woven fabric. Rayon and hair are

sometimes added to the matting to alter its strength and/or texture. In general, felt is extremely durable, workable and wear resistant. It is a widely used fabric in many industries, and its use dates back more than 8,000 years.

Felt has many applications outside of the textile and clothing industries. It can be used for filtering, finishing, sealing and vibration control, as well as a variety of other functions. For many of these uses, graded wool felt is often preferred, although polyester synthetics also provide similar qualities, often at better prices. Certain synthetics also offer superior chemical properties, although wool felt is an ideal fabric when dealing with oil. Softer cotton felt is effective in various lining applications.

Wool felt is fabricated through the wet felting process, which uses water and friction to bind the wool fibers. Synthetic felt, when not wool-based, is typically created through a different process. Bunches of fibers are forced through a lattice of carded fibers, thereby creating a felting similar to that accomplished by the wet felting process. Synthetic felt produced this way is sometimes called needle-felt. All types of felt are available in a multitude of shapes and colors.

Felt has such extensive use and popularity as a design fabric that an International Feltmakers Association was formed more than 20 years ago to foster interest and knowledge. Graded felt is typically categorized by its wool fiber content and tensile strength. Lower SAE grades are typically better at absorbing vibration and more resistant to wear. Although other fabrics, namely cotton and synthetic weaves, have become more popular in clothing design and fabrication, felt has unmatched and far-reaching industrial applications.