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Purpose: PET fiber is widely used in many fields, such as clothing and decorative materials. However, the high flammability and dripping problem restrict its applications. It is vital for PET fiber to overcome these two main drawbacks for practical applications. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper nacre-mimetic flame retardant coating of chitosan (CH) and Montmorillonite (MMT) was fabricated on PET fabrics through the layer-by-layer assembly method. The flame retardancy and anti-dripping performance of the treated PET fabric were investigated. Findings: The results of limiting oxygen index (LOI) value and vertical burning test revealed the anti-dripping performance of PET fabrics which was greatly improved, while the flame retardancy has not been improved. The dripping phenomena was eliminated when the CH/MMT bilayers were over 5 BL. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) results revealed that nacre-mimetic coated CH/MMT bilayers on PET fabrics would promote the char formation both under nitrogen atmosphere and under air atmosphere indicating the obviously condensed phase flame retardant action. scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the char residues revealed that coated PET fabrics would promote the formation of char. Research limitations/implications: However, the char was an unstable char which would further combust to change the thermal degradation and combustion process of PET fabric. Though PET fabric coated by this CH/MMT nacre-mimetic system had no flame retardancy, the anti-dripping performance was greatly improved. This research would provide experimental basis for improving the anti-dripping performance for thermoplastic materials. Originality/value: This research is the original research for the flame retardant treatment by fabrication nacre-mimetic CH/MMT coating on PET fabric, which has not been reported previously. This research would provide experimental basis for improving the anti-dripping performance for thermoplastic polymer fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]