шифон ткань

Characteristics and features of chiffon

The girl’s best attire

is modesty and a transparent dress.

E. Schwartz

There is not a woman in this world who is not familiar with chiffon fabrics. They are in a quite high demand in the world of wedding fashion. This is obviously due to the fact that the most sophisticated and airy wedding dresses are created with their help. Each and every year these dresses keep winning the hearts of the brides-to-be. Amazing chiffon fabric will allow you to feel the gentle light breeze and a subtle touch of butterfly wings on your skin. To discover all the advantages and “pitfalls” inherent to one of the most feminine materials, it is worth getting to know chiffon fabrics closer.

General characteristics of chiffon fabrics

Chiffon  – is translucent, airy, flowing material with a plain weave. For a long time it has remained one of the most highly-demanded sewing materials for wedding dresses. And no wonder, as chiffon dresses are incredibly sophisticated, light and comfortable.

The word «Chiffon» originated in France and its meaning is quite intriguing: if translated from French this word means “rag“. The history of the fabric itself takes its roots in China, the country of silk origin. Before the invention of nylon, in 1938, chiffon fabric was made exclusively from silk fibers and was not available for everyone, because of its high cost. European snappy dressers could not afford this luxury, as the production itself did not expand beyond the East. Later, in 1958, polyester was first used to make chiffon, reducing the cost of the material significantly. In addition, the new composition made the cloth itself more durable and affordable for other social groups.

As you have already understood, the compositions of chiffon fabrics vary. Shiffon can be manufactured either with the addition of both natural and synthetic fibers, or the combination of the latter in certain proportions.

Typically, the fabric is produced by plain weaving of a combination of two types of threadsthe main and the weft one. The mesh effect is achieved through the use of cross-shaped pattern weaving.

Types of Chiffon

Chiffon fabrics can be classified according to the type of weaving and texture:

  • Stretch chiffon – is a transparent elastic material. There are several variants in our store – a thin multi chiffon with grain structure CH07A, a denser version represented by stretch multi chiffon CH41 and a soft stretch chiffon with a velvety surface FC010
  • Crepe-chiffon – is a double-sided thin matte fabric with a conspicuous grained structure. Its typical surface relief is achieved by twisting crepe threads, which are woven left and right, while maintaining a special sequence. As a result, a slightly rough material is produced that practically does not crease and drapes easily. You can buy crepe chiffon in our Wedding Style online store, the item number is CH76.
  • Silk chiffon. This is the thinnest airy fabric with mesh structure. The composition of the fabric can include both natural silk and additives like polyester. The excellent exponents of this type are natural silk chiffon 10146В and its more affordable analogue СН52, which contains synthetic fibers. Both fabrics are incredibly airy and light.
  • Chiffon satin. A feature of the fabric is a perfectly smooth surface and a moderate glossy sheen. If you are looking for exactly this type of chiffon, then we can cater for your needs offering a suitable material from our assortment (its item number is СS12A). If you need to replace the material with a similar one, feel free to choose a translucent, heavy fabric with a wet-look effect, item number CH71.
  • Nylon chiffon — is a fabric from chiffon series with flat folds across the entire width over the fabric’s surface. Sometimes it is referred to as chiffon “seersucker”. Check out its photo on the product page (item number CH70). The fabric is quite dense and strong

Advantages and disadvantages of chiffon fabrics

If we are clear on the types of chiffon, it is high time we discussed advantages and disadvantages of chiffon fabrics.

Those working with chiffon know full well how finicky and persnickety this material is. And yet, it has several advantages:

  • Aesthetic appearance and wearing comfort of finished outfits.
  • Pleasant and soft hand feel.
  • Air tightness and thermoregulation.
  • Resistance to tearing, despite the sheerness.
  • Chiffon fabric absorbs moisture well and dries quickly.
  • The fabric lends itself to draping and creates aesthetic folds.

Chiffon is quite a finicky fabric. It is its smooth surface that causes some inconvenience in the course of work, as the fabric glides and skews. Poorly hemmed edge of chiffon fabric can fray. Due to the low density of the material it is easy to leave stitches on some types of chiffon, so the cloth requires careful handling and should be cut with very sharp scissors.

“I end the show with a silk chiffon dress because no one knows how to make them, – Saint Laurent said sadly, smiling shyly. – This is the most difficult thing in fashion”

Caring for Chiffon Fabric

Chiffon fabrics should be washed by hand or in a washing machine.

If you choose the latter – set the washing mode to low speed. The fabric will not deteriorate if the water temperature does not exceed 30 ° C.

During the first few washing cycles, it is advisable to wash chiffon dresses separately from any other clothes – in case they are colored, they can fade. In addition, the duration of the wash cycle should be short, as this fabric easily loses color if you leave it in water for too long.

It is strongly recommended not to wash the clothes made of chiffon with natural silk fibers at home. Such garments demand special dry cleaning.

It is worth mentioning that chiffon perfectly combines with other more dense fabrics, as well as different types of lace. This mix of textures refreshes the appearance of a dress and gives it a touch of charming glamour. Try to create your own unique wedding dress with chiffon fabrics from Wedding Style. Check out the assortment in the Chiffon category.