By Vireroom Editorial Team. Updated October 1, 2026.
A bedding description can name its raw material, surface finish, and construction together. These terms describe different parts of the item.
Fiber and polyester
Fiber is the basic material used to make yarn or fabric. Polyester is a manufactured fiber. Its name identifies the material, not the fabric's finish or weight.
Fabric
Fabric is the textile made from fibers or yarns, through a construction such as weaving or knitting. It can form a sheet or the outside of a comforter.
Brushed finish
Brushing is a surface treatment that raises fibers on the fabric's face. "Brushed polyester" names both a fiber and a finish, not two separate materials.
Shell
The shell is the outer fabric enclosing the filling in a comforter or pillow.
Fill
Fill is the material inside that shell. Shell composition and fill composition are separate descriptions, even when both name the same fiber.
Quilting and embroidery
Quilting stitches layers together. Embroidery creates a decorative stitched design; it does not, by itself, describe how the filling is held in place.
For help applying these terms to photos and descriptions, read How to Evaluate Polyester Bedding Before You Buy.