29 Sep How Much Do You Know About Wedding Dress Fabrics?
Wedding dresses are made of fabrics of various textures, colors and weights. This means that the characteristics of a gown has a lot to do with the fabrics it’s made of. Looking for a light dress that will be comfortable to dance in? Then your fabric options will be completely different than if you were worried about staying warm in winter.
Let’s begin with a look at satin, one of the most common materials for traditional wedding gowns, to see why it’s favored by so many. We’ll start with a fact you might not know:
It’s a common misconception, says Hall, but “satin” is not a fiber. It’s a finish. You can have satin that’s made of pure silk, all polyester, or a blend. The same is true for lace, tulle, taffeta—almost any fabric. In general, fabrics made from natural fibers breathe better, but they can also be more expensive or wrinkle more easily, thus the rise of blends and synthetics.
Satin is one of the most common, most versatile, and most durable wedding dress fabrics. Satin has a smooth finish with a lot of body, making it perfect for more structured gowns. It’s a supportive fabric that works with every body type and is a good choice for ruched, draped, and ball gown styles. Most bridal satin tends to be 100 percent silk. Read more at Brides…
You wouldn’t be the only one who thought satin was a fiber. Many people are unaware that it can be made up of different fibers, including silk. It turns out that silk is a popular fiber for wedding gowns; it is also used to make the charmeuse fabric. And silk is quite a luxurious fiber.
That said, you may want to explore some of the silk fabric options that may work better for your wedding dress. Here are some of them:
Silk Dupioni is known as the purest of silks. It is also known by the name Raw silk.
Silk Brocade is a shiny fabric made with colorful silk fibers; It is a machine-made silk with or without metallic jari work ( metallic threads in gold and silver ) with beautiful raised patterns on the fabric surface.( There is synthetic Brocade as well) Banaras silk made in North India; Pochampilli silk or Ikat silk from Orissa in India; Chanderi silk are all beautiful brocade silk fabric commonly used for weddings. Cotton silk, bamboo silk, paper silk, banana silk are silk varieties made from plants.
Silk Brocade is a shiny fabric made with colorful silk fibers; It is a machine-made silk with or without metallic jari work ( metallic threads in gold and silver ) with beautiful raised patterns on the fabric surface.( There is synthetic Brocade as well) Banaras silk made in North India; Pochampilli silk or Ikat silk from Orissa in India; Chanderi silk are all beautiful brocade silk fabric commonly used for weddings. Cotton silk, bamboo silk, paper silk, banana silk are silk varieties made from plants. Read more at Sew Guide…
With the high price attached to silk wedding dresses, be sure you are getting the real deal. It would be quite a disappointment if you discover the fabric was counterfeit.
Apart from Silk and Charmeuse, what are your other options? Having a basic idea of what to look out for can really ease your search.
Crepe: covers a wide range of fabrics including synthetics and silk identified by a grainy surface that can crinkle or crimp.
Crepe back satin: a light to mid-weight reversible fabric: smooth, high luster satin weave on one faces; dull crepe weave backing on other face. Both sides can be used!
Chiffon: lightweight, sheer and transparent fabric with soft feel and delicate look. Ideal for flowing designs. Season-less fabric!
Crushed Velvet: thick pile of different heights make this woven fabric have a crushed look. Added elegance: glimmers in certain light.
Crepe de Chine: Softer and shiner than crepe back satin and lighter in weight. Typically rayon or silk.
Damask: distinctive fabric noted by soft sheen and woven pattern same color as the background, usually a floral design. Read more at Wedding Dresses I Love…
Knowing the different fabrics can also help you narrow down your options so that you don’t have such a difficult time choosing your dream dress.
Remember, your dress needs to be suitable for the weather, the wedding activities, and most of all, the photos. That’s why New York Bride and Groom of Raleigh exists – to make sure you have the best dress in town. Drop by our salon and discover the amazing selection of designer wedding gowns waiting for you.