The experimental evaluation of the shear response of fibre-reinforced plies is a requirement for accurate material models predicting progressive damage. In the first part of the paper, the quality of the Iosipescu shear test is investigated with full-field strain measurements and finite element analyses. In the second part, the in-plane and through-thickness shear response of an orthotropic carbon/epoxy uni-weave non-crimp fabric composite are compared, and the stress–strain curves used as input for two continuum damage mechanics models. Both models were able to predict accurately the nonlinear shear behaviour of the material. The model parameters and the damage evolution laws could easily be extracted from cyclic Iosipescu tests.