Wedding Gown Fabrics and Lace

Wedding Gown Fabrics

Brocade features interwoven, raised designs, characterized by a satin weave background, using one or more fillings to create the motif or artwork within the fabric.

Chiffon is a delicately sheer fabric with a simple weave. It is lightweight with a soft drapable finish.

Dotted Swiss is a sheer, very lightweight, muslin fabric embellished with raised dots, evenly spaced throughout.

Eyelet Lace is identified with its small, unsymmetrical holes or perforations finished with a buttonhole stitch, often creating a floral pattern. It has also been described as an open weave embroidery.

Faille (pronounced: “file”) is a shiny, tightly woven fabric made of silk or rayon and has a crosswise rib effect.

Moire is generally made of a polyester or silk taffeta patterned to glisten like water when seen in defused light.

Point d’esprit is a polyester net with the yarns sewn together in such a way as to create a diamond pattern

Polynet is the netting most often used to make yokes and sleeves. Schiffli embroidery is often found on this net and it is popular to attached beaded and sequined appliques as well.

Organza is a transparent, simply woven fabric with a reflective, crystal-like appearance.

Satin is an opaque fabric, woven in a satin weave and features a smooth finish.

Slipper Satin is a light, soft, closely woven, satiny feeling fabric that shines in the light.

Italian Satin is a heavier satin fabric, brimming with body, featuring an antique sheen.

Taffeta is a popular wedding fabric, which may be used as either the lining or outer fabric of a gown. It will have either a matte or shiny finish and will be fairly stiff when used for the outer layer.

Tulle is tiny, meshed net of a silk, cotton or synthetic fabric, usually found in layers, covering a full satin skirt.

Tullonet is a coarse net used to give fullness such as seen in crinoline slips.

Wedding Gown Lace

Alencon is an exquisite lace originating in France. Heavy cording, on a background of fine net, outlines the pattern of this beautiful lace, creating a durable design.

All Over Lace is a wide lace, repeating the same pattern throughout the fabric.

Chantilly is another lace from France. It’s graceful floral display has a soft, draping characteristic. Unlike Alencon lace, it does not have cording surrounding the design.

Cluny Lace is made with loosely-twisted yarn giving it an old fashion look and a three-dimensional feel.

Coin Dot Lace features circles or dots woven into lace or netting.

Re-embroidered Lace is a term used to describe the cording which outlines the floral pattern of lace.

Schiffli Lace is a machine made, delicate floral embroidery, made of cotton or rayon yarn and embroidered onto any number of soft sheer fabrics. The most popular background for this lace is either organza or polynet..

Valenciennes Lace features a net background with diamond or round shaped holes. The design is flat, sheer and woven with cotton, nylon or polyester fibers.

Venice Lace features a heavy, raised floral design that has long been a favorite wedding lace. It has a three-dimensional appearance. The background has been burnt out leaving only the yarns which are most often made of cotton or rayon.

Wedgewood Lace is a delicate lace with a point d’esprit field and an intricately detailed border.