Wedding Dresses - a fabric guide

Getting confused by all the different types of fabric out there? Iron out the confusion with our fabric guide

With so many different fabrics available for wedding gowns today, it can be difficult to keep your organza straight from your chiffon! Here is a brief description of some of the most common bridal fabrics.

Brocade

A fabric woven on a computerised loom known as a Jacquard, which creates an ornate raised design.

Chiffon

The word chiffon originates from French word for “cloth” or “rag”. This is a soft, delicate and transparent fabric that can be made from silk or rayon. It is popular for lightweight pieces, such as sleeves, overskirts, and wraps.

Damask

A lighter version of brocade, damask is made from silk, linen, cotton or synthetic, with a reversible pattern formed by weaving. Damasks get their name from the city of Damascus in India, where they were believed to have originated in the Middle Ages.

Duchess Satin

Also known as Princess Satin, Duchess Satin is a blend of silk and rayon fibres, with one side shiny and smooth. It is a slightly stiffer fabric, making it unsuitable for slinky, bias-cut gowns. But beading and embroidery work well on this fabric because the weight and weave to support it.

Georgette

Made from polyester or silk, Georgette is a sheer, lightweight fabric with a creped surface. Georgette is quite strong, and as it is highly absorbent, can easily be dyed or printed with a pattern.

Organza

A thin, sheer fabric traditionally made from silk fibres, which can also be made from or include threads of nylon and polyester. It is woven in mills in China, India, France, Italy and the US. Chinese organza is tends to be made completely from silk fibres, whereas French and Italian organza often includes nylon filaments, creating a sturdier finish.  Pure silk organza is more delicate, and fibres may split with wear. It is possible to iron organza using a warm setting.
Rayon: A smooth synthetic fabric that is similar to silk, but with greater elasticity.
Satin: A densely woven silk with a lustrous sheen on one side, satin became popular in Europe in the 12th century.  It can be ironed with a cool iron on the reverse side.

Silk

A smooth, soft natural fibre, created by silkworms, and first developed in ancient China several thousand years BC. Silks were originally reserved for the Chinese Emperors; today they are still prized and considered precious, making them popular choices for special occasions such as weddings. Today, individual silk fibres are woven together to create a variety of fabrics including satin, duchesse satin, chiffon, organza and tulle. It is one of the strongest natural fibres but loses strength when wet. It also has good absorbency, making it comfortable to wear in both warm and cold weather. According to a 1986 study, to produce one kilogram of silk, 3000 silkworms must each consume 104 kilograms of mulberry leaves.

Tulle

A fine, lightweight netting made of nylon, silk or rayon or polyester. Most commonly used in veils, but also a feature of many gowns.