Edge of the material (3)
I believe the answer is:
hem
'edge' is the definition.
(a hem is an edge on a piece of cloth)
'of the material' is the wordplay.
'of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'HEM' is hidden within 'the material'.
(Other definitions for hem that I've seen before include "A stitched border of cloth" , "Stitched edge of garment" , "Double-backed cloth border" , "Border; fringe" , "Double-backed edge" .)