When talking about colors, Ivory and ecru are two different colors. Ivory is a creamy white color that looks so much like the color of ivory, the hard white form of dentine that forms the tusks of elephants. Ecru as a color is a slightly yellowish-gray color or a greyish light yellow color. Ecru is mostly used to describe materials like unbleached linen or wool. In the past, ecru and beige were assumed to be the same since both look so much alike.
Ivory, when compared with other colors like ecru, is very lighter and softer. Ivory looks more like a feminine color, and that is why the color is used to make materials that are meant for women. Ecru, on the other hand, looks more like a masculine color. Ivory is always a dominant color out of the two. Ecru, on the other hand, is mostly used to create distinctive designs.