A fabric tape or forming wire for a fibrous web manufacturing or processing machine, includes an upper fabric layer having upper longitudinal threads and interwoven first crossthreads, and a lower fabric layer having lower longitudinal threads and interwoven lower crossthreads. The fabric layers are stacked and the weaving pattern of the tape repeats. A ratio of upper to lower longitudinal threads in a repeat is smaller than one. The upper and lower longitudinal threads in each repeat are in first and second groups. Each first group is formed by an upper longitudinal thread and two lower longitudinal threads thereunder. Each second group is formed by an upper longitudinal thread and a lower longitudinal thread thereunder. In a perpendicular projection onto the fabric layers, the upper and lower longitudinal threads in each group are not or slightly offset forming a maximum free space of a half upper longitudinal thread diameter therebetween.