Fabric in car departing Cumbrian city (5)
I believe the answer is:
lisle
'fabric' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'car departing cumbrian city' is the wordplay.
'departing' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'cumbrian city' becomes 'carlisle' (I've seen this before).
'carlisle' with 'car' removed is 'LISLE'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for lisle that I've seen before include "Strong twisted cotton thread for the strange Ellis" , "(Fabric woven with) a fine cotton thread" , "Fine smooth cotton thread for stockings" , "Cotton stocking thread" , "Twisted yarn" .)