Abstract: A press fabric for the press section of a paper machine has a base fabric which includes a nonwoven mesh fabric. The base fabric, or a layer thereof, is assembled in integral form using a strip or strips of the nonwoven mesh fabric. The assembly may be effected by spirally winding the nonwoven mesh fabric in a plurality of non-overlapping turns, by abutting each turn of the nonwoven mesh fabric against that previously wound, and by joining each turn of the nonwoven mesh fabric to that previously wound to form an endless loop. Alternatively, a plurality of endless loops of equivalent length are formed from separate strips of nonwoven mesh fabric, and arranged in a side-by-side abutting relationship. The endless loops are then joined, one to the next, to provide a base fabric, or component thereof, in the form of an endless loop.