Ellis can provide this material (5)
I believe the answer is:
lisle
'this material' is the definition.
(lisle is a kind of material)
'ellis can' is the wordplay.
'can' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'canned' mean this (canned can mean drunk)).
'ellis' anagrammed gives 'LISLE'.
'provide' is the link.
(Other definitions for lisle that I've seen before include "Strong tightly twisted cotton thread" , "Strong cotton fabric" , "Pedestrianised city" , "Type of cotton yarn" , "Twisted yarn" .)