We investigated the effect of rigid spherical inclusions such as microcapsules and fillers on the permeability of fabrics by using glass beads as model inclusions. Beads with a range of diameters (40–800μm) and volume fractions (2.5–10%) were sieved between layers of woven E-glass fabric targeting a fiber volume fraction of 40%. Permeability measurements were completed by X-ray microtomography to analyze the samples pore structure and estimate their permeability using Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations. Experimental and numerical estimates were also fitted with a Kozeny model accounting for porosity and specific surface of samples. We identified a threshold curve related to bead diameter and volume fraction below which the permeability follows that of a plain packed textile, and above which a strong departure from this trend is observed, induced by strong distortions of the textile. This behavior was closely correlated to the internal features of the textile.