Fabric seen in middle of local tip unknown (6)
I believe the answer is:
chintz
'fabric' is the definition.
(chintz is a kind of fabric)
'middle of local tip unknown' is the wordplay.
'middle of' indicates the central letters.
'tip' becomes 'hint' ('hint' can be a synonym of 'tip'**).
'unknown' becomes 'z' (algebra).
The centre of 'local' is 'c'.
'c'+'hint'+'z'='CHINTZ'
'seen in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for chintz that I've seen before include "Printed cotton fabric for curtains or upholstery" , "Brightly printed cotton fabric" , "Cotton cloth with printed patterns used for furnishings" , "Glazed cotton cloth with printed pattern" , "(Sometimes glazed) fabric cotton" .)