Both categories consist of fibers of various textile natures (natural, artificial, synthetic, animal) that are cut or ground. The key differentiator for flock is the activation process.

Activation involves a chemical process that imparts an electrostatic charge to the textile fibers, making them "flockable." Technical fibers or powders, on the other hand, are primarily textile-origin raw materials that are either only cut or ground and at most dyed in the required color; they do not undergo activation. These fibers are intended for applications where they are used mainly as fillers to provide structure to materials, without the need for inclusion in flocking systems.