The classic lumberman’s jacket fabric, mackinaw gets its name from Fort Mackinac (the pronunciation is mackinaw), where heavy wool blankets were traded by Europeans with Native Americans. Mackinaw is thick, napped, often twilled fabric, and can be single or double cloth. It is usually wool and reclaimed wool, sometimes with cotton. Quite often mackinaw is in an outsize check or plaid. Buffalo check is a term now used to describe such a big-checked pattern on any fabric.
Uses: Blankets, winter-weight jackets and coats
See also:
Buffalo check
