The town gives its name to a type of heavy
woolen cloth generally used to make blankets and
overcoats, especially for the armed forces, and a type of luggage. In the
Middle Ages, an important part of the region's industry was the manufacturing of
Flemish laken (a
broadcloth), while the cloth produced in Duffel was a thicker variation. The manufacturing process was brought to England by Flemish emigrants in the 1500s. The name for the cloth was so well-known, a type of overcoat made from the cloth and manufactured in England received the name
Duffel coat. == Notable natives ==