Contrast fabric is a term used in sewing

Sewing

Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...

 used to refer to a fabric piece or embellishment

Embellishment

In sewing and crafts an embellishment is anything that adds design interest to the piece.-Common examples of embellishment in sewing and crafts:* appliqué* embroidery, done either by machine or by hand...

 made from a different fabric than the main fabric. The term contrast fabric directly contrasts with the term self-fabric

Self-fabric

Self-fabric is a term used in sewing. It refers to a fabric piece or embellishment made from the same fabric as the main fabric, as opposed to contrast fabric....

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Contrast fabric is used in certain pattern pieces such as facings and linings

Lining (sewing)

In sewing and tailoring, a lining is an inner layer of fabric, fur, or other material inserted into clothing, hats, luggage, curtains, handbags and similar items....

 to produce design details that stand out from the rest of the garment. It is also used as embellishment, such as in ric rac

Ric rac

Rickrack is a "flat narrow braid woven in zigzag form, used as a trimming for clothing or curtains."Made of cotton or polyester, it is stitched or glued to the edges of an item. Its zig-zag configuration repeats every third of an inch and is sold in multiple colors and textures...

, piping

Piping (sewing)

In sewing, piping is a type of trim or embellishment consisting of a strip of folded fabric inserted into a seam to define the edges or style lines of a garment or other textile object. Usually the fabric strip is cut on the bias, and often it is folded over a cord...

) or appliqué

Applique

In its broadest sense, an appliqué is a smaller ornament or device applied to another surface. In the context of ceramics, for example, an appliqué is a separate piece of clay added to the primary work, generally for the purpose of decoration...

. For example, to make button

Button

In modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of...

s a design feature, a special type of button is often covered in the contrasting fabric.