The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word WHIPCORD
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More clues leading to the result WHIPCORD
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "hard cloth" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hard cloth = whipcord.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WHIPCORD mean?
WHIPCORD noun- A hard, twisted cord used for making whiplashes.
- A type of catgut.
- A strong worsted fabric, with a diagonal rib.