Jacquard fabrics bear the name of the machine that makes them. The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801.
The Jacquard loom revolutionised the weaving of fabrics such as brocade, brocatel, damask, lampás, piqué, etc. The machine used perforated cards to weave patterns into the fabric, allowing even the most inexperienced users to make complex designs.
Most of the fabrics produced today are made with this type of loom.
The Jacquard machine is located above the loom, and is responsible for moving the warp threads independently, through a system of hooks. This invention is considered by many to be the first programmable machine in history.