Taffeta fabric, art silk, pink

Product description

This taffeta so perfectly imitates silk that it has earned an exception to our long-standing exclusivity policy on natural materials. Ideal for ballgowns, special occasion suiting, and bridalwear wherever you want a less expensive, easier-to-care-for alternative to natural silk taffeta.

Art silk

Artificial silk can be made of any material that resembles natural silk fiber. In this case, an ultra-fine polyester has been woven into taffeta so masterfully, that the difference is difficult detect at first touch, much less at first glance. Though imitation silk taffeta cannot boast the properties of true mulberry silk (breathability, skin-friendly pH, etc.), it holds its own as a beautiful, quality fabric with a luxurious look.

Taffeta fabric

Taffeta is a sturdy fabric with a stiff, papery hand. It holds a fold perfectly, and if you want to experiment with intricate, variegated cuts, taffeta is a capable partner. Of course, it also excels in simple pieces like a circle skirt or a sheath dress.

Taffeta has a smooth finish and a slight sheen – though not entirely matte, it doesn’t have the gloss of satin – and folds and gathers create a fascinating play of light and shadow.

Uses for taffeta

Taffeta is a special-occasion favorite. Dance the night away in a voluminous, full skirt or slip off to a cocktail party. Taffeta will shimmer elegantly under the lights.

Taffeta is a favorite for wedding dresses (where it’s perfect for a princess skirt with petticoats underneath), evening gowns, and little black dresses (in any color at all). It looks great in skirts of various types from circle skirts to A-lines, knife pleats, and pencil skirts.

For everyday wear, try taffeta in an A-line skirt (check the recent favorite Ralph Lauren taffeta dress for inspiration), in trousers, or a blazer. For blouses, though, it’s really too stiff.

You can also use taffeta for accessories such as clutches, sashes, and hair bows. Try embellishing it with embroidery or textile paints.

Sewing with taffeta

Transferring and cutting patterns is easy with taffeta. Just remember to use very fine pins to avoid leaving visible holes. For the same reason, avoid ripping out stitches if at all possible. Sew with a universal polyester thread and a good, sharp needle (e.g. sharp/microtext size 70–80). There is no need to pre-shrink fabric before sewing.

Care

Wash at 30°C, preferably on the delicate setting or by hand. Spin at low speed. Do not tumble dry or hang in direct sunlight. Iron from the reverse side at the lowest setting (synthetics); if ironing from the face side is unavoidable, press very carefully through a cotton cloth. Water droplets will mark the fabric (watermarks can be removed by washing).