Fabric outfit sailor returned (5)
I believe the answer is:
batik
'fabric' is the definition.
(batik is a kind of fabric)
'outfit sailor returned' is the wordplay.
'outfit' becomes 'kit' (kitting is a kind of outfiting**).
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'kit'+'ab'='kitab'
'kitab' backwards is 'BATIK'.
(Other definitions for batik that I've seen before include "Eastern method of printing textiles" , "Hand-dyed fabric" , "Indonesian cloth designs" , "Fabric-printing process" , "Method of colouring" .)