by: Are you finding yourself wondering what the differences are between fabrics as you shop for your gown, BM and GM attire~ as well as fabric for venue decor? Perhaps Shantung and Duponi silks have your head spinning this very minute!
Check out this glossary of fabrics and fabric information I found at "NY Fashion Center"... literally from A to Z. Hopefully you'll find the list helpful as you read tags, talk with salespeople and research fabrics best suited for the style and season of your event. Good to know...
popular wedding fabrics
Chantilly Lace
A lace featuring a netted background with ornate, often dense embroidered floral patterns with outlines made from heavier threads. Originated in Chantilly, France in the 17th century.
Charmeuse
A luxurious, supple, silky fabric with an extremely shiny face and a dull back, similar to satin but lighter in weight. Usually made from rayon or cotton, but premium varieties are made from silk.
Chiffon
Made from tightly twisted crepe fibers, chiffon is lightweight, extremely sheer, almost transparent fabric that has a slightly bumpy texture.
Crepe-back Satin
A satin fabric in which the wrong side has the crinkled texture of crepe, while the right side has a smooth, shiny satin finish.
Crepe de Chine
Woven of hard spun silk yarn in the natural condition. The fabric has a somewhat crimpy or crinkled surface created by the highly twisted fibers.
Damask
A heavy fabric made from cotton, silk, linen, wool or synthetic yarns, typically used for draperies and home decor. Typically made using a satin weave, this reversible fabric is named for a luxurious silk fabric introduced through Damascus, Syria.
Dupioni Silk
The silk yarns are made from the cocoon of two silk worms that have nested together. In spinning, the double strand is not separated, creating uneven yarns that give the fabric a crisp texture with irregular slubs. Also referred to as dupion or doupioni.
Gossamer
An extremely lightweight, sheer, shiny fabric, typically made from silk, similar to gauze.
Houndstooth
A two-toned pattern featuring broken checks or pointed shapes, originating in Scotland. Popular in 1960's style jackets, suits and hats. Also referred to as dog's tooth.
Organza
Tightly twisted silk yarns make an extremely crisp, sheer, lightweight fabric. Organza was traditionally the silk version of organdy, but is now made from other fibers as well.
Shantung
This medium-weight, refined, plain-weave fabric is characterized by a slubbed effect, similar to Dupioni silk, but with a more sophisticated and polished appearance.
Tulle
This lightweight, extremely fine, machine-made hexagonal shape netting, is usually made from nylon, silk, or rayon.
Weave
The manner in which a fabric is produced, utilizing methods of combining the warp and weft threads. The type of weave affects the strength, stretch, sheen and weight of a fabric. The basic types of weaves are plain, twill and satin.
Source: NY Fashion Center
